US Envoy Warns Israeli Strike in Syria Nearly Sparked Turkey Clash

U.S. Ambassador to Turkey Tom Barrack warned that an Israeli airstrike near the Turkish border in Syria on August 18 almost triggered a major escalation, urging an end to Israeli operations in Syria and suggesting Washington might intervene to contain them. Barrack, who also serves as the U.S. envoy to Syria and Iraq and is considered close to President Donald Trump, stated this at the Global Security Forum in Doha. He downplayed the likelihood of a direct military confrontation between Israel and Turkey, asserting neither side desires such a conflict. Barrack described Israel as "too smart to open a real confrontation with Turkey" and stated that Ankara also does not wish for a direct clash.

The ambassador expressed concern over the August 18 Israeli raid on the Abu al-Duhur airbase in northern Syria, close to the Turkish border. The report indicated Israel conducted eight strikes targeting the runway, causing infrastructure damage but no casualties. Barrack revealed that neither Turkey nor the U.S. received prior notification of the operation, noting that Turkey could have quickly dispatched aircraft, which would have placed the involved parties in a "completely different situation." He suggested it was time to halt Israeli military activity in Syria and questioned whether the U.S. should intervene to stop it.

According to the report, Israel justified the strike as a measure to prevent the reinforcement of Turkish military presence in the area, while Turkey's Defense Ministry denied the presence of Turkish forces at the targeted base. Barrack also touched upon the war in Yemen, stating Washington would provide logistical support to Saudi Arabia but would not engage in ground operations against the Houthis. He questioned the implications of a defense pact, "Mecca Agreement," and whether Turkey would deploy ground troops alongside Saudi Arabia or provide drones without compensation. Barrack cautioned against U.S. ground intervention in Yemen as "futile" and advocated for regional solutions over military force.

Regarding Iran, Barrack identified deep mistrust between the U.S. and the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps as a root cause of the crisis and expressed skepticism about military intervention. When asked if war with Iran would be a mistake, he stated he didn't know but pointed out that past U.S. attempts to intervene or change regimes in the Middle East often resulted in outcomes considered mistakes. In Syria, Barrack praised President Ahmed Al-Shar'a for managing the transitional phase and integrating Kurdish forces into official institutions.