US Ambassador to Turkey Suggests Israel Tried to Provoke Turkey Amid Syria Strike

Tom Barrett, the US Ambassador to Turkey, criticized Israel's recent airstrike in Syria, suggesting Israel may have attempted to lure Turkey into a military confrontation to influence Israeli elections. Barrett described this as a possible aggressive move timed to resonate during election season, though he clarified it was only a theory and not confirmed. He noted that Israel had informed the US about potential Turkish military presence at the Abu al-Duhur base six days before the strike, but US intelligence confirmed no Turkish troops or assets were present.

Barrett explained that despite Israel receiving intelligence from Damascus indicating no Turkish military activity at the base, Israel proceeded with the unannounced attack, targeting runways. This raised concerns in Washington about the risk of unintended escalation, as Israeli jets approached close to the Turkish border where a strong Turkish military presence exists amid tense Ankara-Jerusalem relations. The US is now working to establish a coordination mechanism between Israel, Turkey, and Syria to prevent misidentifications and accidental military clashes.

The ambassador emphasized that the Trump administration urges regional countries to take greater responsibility for stability by lowering tensions, increasing dialogue, and avoiding sudden military actions. Barrett stressed that Israel had communicated to Syria and Turkey its refusal to allow military deployments that could threaten its freedom of action against Iran since October 7. He also highlighted that Turkey has openly stated it does not intend to take offensive action against Israel.

Barrett further supported the Syrian government under President Ahmad al-Shara, stating the US saw no hostile intent from Syria or Turkey before the incident. He acknowledged Israel's security concerns but argued that direct or covert talks with Ankara would have been a better approach than unilateral military action. Barrett described the Israeli strike as a temporary setback in efforts to build trust with Syria's new government and expressed hope for renewed dialogue among the parties involved.