US Envoy Warns Turkey Against Actions Threatening Israel

U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee has urged Turkey to contribute to regional stability amid heightened tensions between Ankara and Jerusalem. "I don't think we fully know yet if they are going to be helpful or not. Hopefully, they will decide to be," Huckabee stated in an interview with the Jerusalem Post. These remarks follow an Israeli strike on August 18 against the Syrian airbase of Abu al-Duhur, shortly before Turkish soldiers and air defense systems were slated for deployment there. Following the operation, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned that Israel would continue to act against any Turkish actions perceived as destabilizing the region or threatening Israeli security.

Huckabee characterized the Israeli strike as a warning to Turkey, comparing it to a baseball pitcher throwing near a batter to make them step back. He noted that the strike, which reportedly only damaged the runway, aimed to signal to Turkey not to advance its military presence near Israeli positions in Syria. The U.S. ambassador also expressed concern over increasingly harsh rhetoric from Turkish officials directed at Israel, citing Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan's statements labeling Israel a "problem for all of humanity."

The U.S. is also monitoring financial channels operating through Turkey that could potentially benefit Hamas in Gaza, which Huckabee described as a "serious problem." The Biden administration is reportedly working to de-escalate tensions between the two U.S. allies, with President Biden maintaining good relations with both Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Prime Minister Netanyahu. Efforts are underway to establish a mechanism for dialogue involving Israel, Turkey, and Syria, with U.S. Ambassador to Turkey Tom Barrack involved. A recent meeting between Mossad Director Roman Gofman and Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani aimed to prevent further escalation and restart dialogue. Huckabee indicated that a communication mechanism now includes Israel, Turkey, the U.S., Syria, and Lebanon to facilitate discussions before tensions become unmanageable.