US Envoy Urges Halt to Israeli Strikes in Syria, Hints at Intervention

Tom Barlek, the U.S. Ambassador to Turkey and Special Envoy for Syria and Iraq, issued an unusually strong public criticism of Israeli security operations in Syria, calling for an end to Israeli airstrikes and suggesting potential U.S. intervention. Speaking at the Doha Global Security Forum on Tuesday, Barlek stated, "It is time to stop this. I don't know if it is not time for the U.S. to intervene to stop this." The remarks followed an August 18th Israeli strike on airstrips at Abu al-Duhur base in northwestern Syria, reportedly aimed at preventing Turkish military entrenchment. Barlek claimed the operation was conducted without prior notification to Washington or Ankara and nearly triggered a conflict, noting that "Turkey could have launched its planes quickly, and suddenly we would have found ourselves in a completely different situation." However, he assessed that "Israel is too smart to initiate a real confrontation with the Turks," believing neither side desires direct war.

Barlek also praised the conduct of Syria's new president, Ahmed al-Shar'a, commending his management of the transition period in Damascus and efforts to integrate Kurdish leadership into state institutions. He emphasized that political cooperation requires a clear economic outlook.

Addressing other Middle Eastern fronts, the U.S. envoy expressed deep skepticism about the effectiveness of military responses against the Houthis in Yemen. He questioned the practical implications of the "Mecca Alliance," asking if Turkey would deploy ground forces alongside Saudi Arabia or provide free drones. Barlek clarified that despite President Trump's logistical support for Riyadh, the U.S. would not commit ground troops, deeming it "futile."

Regarding the conflict with Iran and its nuclear program, Barlek acknowledged that mutual distrust between the Iranian Revolutionary Guards and the U.S. is a major obstacle. When asked if military action against Iran was a mistake, he responded pointedly, "I don't know if it's a mistake or not, but every time we tried to intervene and replace the person or the regime, it seems to have been a mistake." He concluded by stating that the U.S. is not abandoning the Middle East but is changing its approach to responsibility sharing in the region.