Turkey and Israel have launched talks to prevent conflicts between Syrian military forces as Israeli military operations and growing competition caused tensions.
The Turkish and Israeli governments said in a statement that a meeting took place in Azerbaijan on Wednesday. A statement from the Turkish Ministry of Defense said the meeting between military and security officials was intended to practice methods to “prevent unwanted incidents in Syria.” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said both sides agreed to continue the dialogue.
The meeting came just before Syrian new leader, President Ahmed Arshara, on Friday, shortly before a scheduled visit to Turkey, discussing security and military cooperation, Syrian television reported.
The rebel coalition led by Alshara and supported by Turkey overthrew President Bashar al-Assad in December and was forced to withdraw primarily by Assad's major allies, Russia and Iran. In the resulting power vacuum, Israel and Turkey compete for influence. This rivalry is increasing the instability of Syria. In Syria, the new government is struggling under pressure from regional authority to stabilize a country that was divided and injured after a 13-year civil war.
Turkey has long occupied parts of northern Syria to support the opposition parties fighting the Assad regime. Turkey recently offered to train Syrian troops and upgrade Syrian army bases and airports, analysts say, but Syria has not publicly confirmed acceptance of the offer.
After the collapse of Al Assad, Israel moved its troops along the height of Goran to a buffer zone that was established over the years, and beyond that, occupying parts of southern Syria, carrying out hundreds of bombing raids on Syrian military depots and bases.
The new Syrian government under Alshara has protested in an attempt to destabilise the country against Israeli strikes and invasions, and has announced a foreign policy of attacks with all its neighbors. It has hardly publicly said about the role Turkey plans to play.
However, the piloting of the two rivals escalated sharply last week as Israel bombed several bases. According to extensive media reports in Türkiye and Syria, the base was one of those Turkey offered to use and upgrade.
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan in a comment on Turkish television channels on Wednesday criticising Israel for the purpose of Syrian expansionist, saying that Turkey has no intention of fighting with Syrian Israel or other countries.
“We cannot see Syria being exposed once again to domestic turmoil, operations, and provocations that threaten Turkey's national security,” he said. “We can't be satisfied with just looking.”
He said Turkey is carrying out military operations in Syria, including the use of aircraft, so he said it would need to speak to Israel, just like other Syrian troops, to prevent accidents.
The conflict between Israel and Turkey is severe enough to feature consultations at a White House meeting during Netanyahu's visit to Washington on Tuesday, and President Trump has offered to mediate between the two countries.
“We don't want to see Syria being used by anyone, including Turkey, as a basis for its attack on Israel,” Netanyahu said. He did not explain in circumstances where he believes Turkey could attack Israel, but the presence of Turkish jets and air defense systems at bases in southern Syria would limit Israeli flights in the region.
“We discussed ways to avoid this conflict in many ways. I don't think we can have a better interlocutor than the President of the United States for this purpose,” Netanyahu added.
“I have a very good relationship with Türkiye and their leaders, and I think we can solve that,” Trump replied.
However, he looked at Netanyahu in person and added, “You have to be reasonable.”
Safak Timur Contributed to report from Istanbul, Muhammad Haji Kadur From Damascus, and Adam Lasgon From Jerusalem.
