Turkey and Israel have held “technical talks” to prevent clashes between their troops in Syria, a Turkish official said on Thursday. The first talks took place in Azerbaijan on Wednesday to create a “de-escalation mechanism to prevent unwanted incidents in Syria” said the Defense Ministry official on condition of anonymity as part of a policy to discuss the topic. “The work to establish the conflict-free mechanism will continue.” Since the ousting of President Bashar al-Assad in Syria last year, Turkey and Israel have been fighting over their different interests in the country. Israeli jets carried out an attack on a Syrian airbase last week. Turkey hopes to use Syrian bases to expand its influence. Israel also fears that the new Islamist leadership in Syria could pose a new threat along its border and has established a buffer zone on Syrian territory. Turkey’s rise to become a major player in Syria has raised concerns in Israel about increased Turkish military presence. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanjahu said on Tuesday that Turkish bases in Syria would represent a “threat to Israel.” The Defense Ministry official said that evaluations for the establishment of a base for joint Turkish-Syrian training were underway and added that such activities would follow international law, “without targeting third countries.” Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said on Wednesday that Turkey had “no intention of waging a conflict in Syria, either with Israel or with any other country in the region.” But he added that Ankara “cannot watch as Syria is exposed to an internal uprising, an operation, or a provocation that threatens Turkey’s national security.” Netanjahu sought support from his ally, US President Donald Trump, for the struggle with a country that Israel perceives as increasingly hostile. Instead, Trump praised Erdogan for “taking over Syria” positioned himself as a possible mediator between the two countries and urged Netanjahu to be “reasonable” in his dealings with Turkey.
Turkey and Israel’s Historic Meeting to Prevent Conflict in Syria
