Istanbul, Turkey — Turkey and Israel have initiated technical-level discussions to prevent unintended military clashes in Syria, Turkish officials confirmed Thursday, marking a rare moment of dialogue between the two nations amid heightened regional tensions.
The first round of talks took place Wednesday in Azerbaijan, where defense representatives from both countries discussed the creation of a de-escalation mechanism aimed at avoiding “undesirable incidents” involving their forces operating in Syrian territory.
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“A mechanism to avoid conflict is being developed,” a Turkish Defense Ministry official said on condition of anonymity, in line with ministry policy. “Work will continue to establish a conflict-free zone and communication framework.”
Tensions have been mounting in Syria since the ouster of President Bashar al-Assad late last year, with Turkey and Israel pursuing divergent strategic interests in the country’s post-conflict landscape. Ankara has thrown its support behind Syria’s new Islamist-led government—formed by former rebels it supported during the 13-year civil war—while Israel has expressed deep concern over the rise of what it perceives as a hostile regime on its northern border.
Israel has established a buffer zone inside Syria as a security measure and reportedly carried out airstrikes on a Syrian airbase that Turkey is believed to be eyeing for joint operations with the new Syrian government. Turkish officials said discussions are underway to possibly use the base for Turkish-Syrian counterterrorism training missions targeting Islamic State remnants.
“These activities are conducted in accordance with international law and are not intended to target third parties,” the Turkish official said.
Israel, however, remains wary. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned earlier this week that any Turkish military base inside Syria would pose a “danger to Israel,” reinforcing concerns in Tel Aviv over growing Turkish influence in the region.
Despite these tensions, Turkey insists it has no interest in stoking conflict. “Turkey has no intention of engaging in hostilities in Syria — not with Israel or with any other regional actor,” Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said Wednesday. “However, we cannot stand by if developments in Syria threaten our national security.”
Bilateral ties between Israel and Turkey, once close allies, have been strained for years and have further deteriorated over the war in Gaza. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has been a vocal critic of Israel’s military operations there, drawing harsh responses from Israeli officials.
Amid these diplomatic strains, Prime Minister Netanyahu reportedly sought support from U.S. President Donald Trump this week in addressing the perceived threat posed by Turkey. Instead, Trump praised Erdoğan’s leadership in Syria, proposed himself as a mediator between Ankara and Tel Aviv, and urged Netanyahu to be “reasonable” in dealing with Turkey.
As regional power dynamics shift rapidly in post-Assad Syria, the talks between Israel and Turkey represent a cautious step toward avoiding direct confrontation — even as the broader relationship remains fraught.
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