The U.S. is pushing for a formal coordination channel between Israel, Syria, and Türkiye to prevent accidental escalation after an Israeli strike near the Turkish border.
Key facts
- •The U.S. is working to establish a deconfliction mechanism between Israel, Syria, and Türkiye to reduce the risk of accidental military escalation.
- •Israel conducted eight airstrikes on the Abu al-Dahur airbase in northwestern Syria, which is located 70 kilometers from the Turkish border.
- •Türkiye was not warned of the Israeli strikes, which envoy Tom Barrack stated could have reasonably prompted a Turkish military response.
- •The Abu al-Dahur airbase has been out of service as a dedicated military airfield since 2013.
- •Israel has continued military attacks in Syria since the 2024 overthrow of former leader Bashar Assad, including strikes in southern and central Syria in March.
U.S. envoy to Türkiye Tom Barrack announced that Washington is seeking to establish a military coordination mechanism involving Türkiye, Syria, and Israel. The proposal follows an Israeli airstrike on the Abu al-Dahur airbase in northwestern Syria, which occurred without prior warning to Turkish authorities. Barrack stated that the lack of communication could have triggered a military response from Türkiye, emphasizing the need for a more robust architecture to prevent future miscalculations.
The Incident at Abu al-Dahur
On Tuesday, Israel reportedly conducted eight airstrikes targeting the runway and storage facilities at the Abu al-Dahur airbase. According to a military source and a local resident, there were no casualties reported from the attack. The airbase, located approximately 70 kilometers east of the Turkish border, has been inactive as a dedicated military airfield since 2013 and has changed control multiple times during Syria's 14-year civil war. The Israeli military has declined to comment on the strikes.
Diplomatic and Military Context
Barrack noted that the strike likely stemmed from an Israeli perception that Türkiye might increase its presence at the base. Türkiye, which currently provides military training and diplomatic support to the administration of Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, did not receive advance notice of the operation. While the U.S. currently facilitates some information-sharing, officials are calling for a more formal, resource-backed communication channel to replace reliance on military force, which Barrack described as significantly more costly.
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This article was independently rewritten by ManyPress editorial AI from reporting originally published by Daily Sabah.
