Syrian Foreign Minister Says Talks with Israel Halted After Airport Attack

Syrian Foreign Minister Assad Hassan al-Shibani stated on Sunday that diplomatic contacts with Israel have ceased following an attack on the Abu al-Zuhur military airport. He emphasized that Syria currently does not trust Israel and prioritizes preventing further strikes. However, al-Shibani expressed hope for a return to negotiations soon, urging Israel to seize what he called a historic opportunity for diplomacy.

Tensions remained high over the weekend between Israel and Turkey amid ongoing involvement in Syria. U.S. envoy to Syria and Ambassador to Ankara, Tom Barrett, suggested Israel’s deep strikes in Syria might be politically motivated ahead of Israeli elections. Barrett also controversially claimed Israel is occupying the Golan Heights, contradicting UN positions.

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Katz responded sharply, stating the IDF recommended the strikes based on clear intelligence about Turkish threats to Israeli security. Katz accused Barrett of inaccuracies and positions conflicting with U.S. President Biden’s stance. Reports from Channel 13 revealed Turkey planned to deploy radars and surface-to-air missiles in Syria, raising concerns about restricting Israeli Air Force operations, especially regarding potential strikes on Iran.

A senior Israeli official warned that advanced Turkish systems in Syria could enable extremist groups linked to ISIS and al-Qaeda. Meanwhile, Gulf sources indicated Turkey aims to strengthen its presence in Syria with Damascus’s invitation, and Saudi Arabia supports a Turkey-Syria alliance mainly to counter Iran. Turkish officials reportedly told the U.S. they prefer pushing Russia out of Syria.

This complex regional dynamic underscores the fragile balance of power and the interplay of diplomatic and military maneuvers involving Israel, Syria, Turkey, the U.S., and Gulf states.