Israel's Syria strike risked scrambling Turkish jets, military escalation, US envoy tells 'Post'

US Special Envoy for Syria Tom Barrack has warned that Israel's recent strike on the Abu al-Duhur airbase in Syria carried a significant risk of escalating into direct military confrontation, potentially involving Turkey. Barrack told The Jerusalem Post that Turkish forces were unaware of the Israeli aircraft's approach and intentions, which could have led them to scramble their own jets under the mistaken belief they were under attack.

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Turkish forces were not aware that the Israeli aircraft were en route to that specific Syrian base, nor of their intended purpose, and therefore could potentially have been inclined to scramble their own jets in the belief that they themselves were under attack.

Syria reported that Israel conducted eight airstrikes on the airbase's runway and facilities, located near the Turkish border. The Israeli Prime Minister's Office claimed responsibility, stating Syria was on the verge of violating a security status quo by allowing Turkish troops to deploy at the base, a move Israel had repeatedly warned against.

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The events of yesterday were serious and worrisome. However, we are relieved that no human life was harmed and that the situation did not escalate.

Barrack emphasized the critical need for clear communication channels, noting that their absence could have exacerbated the situation. He revealed that quiet discussions are underway with relevant parties to relaunch a deconfliction cell between Israel and Syria, with the potential for Turkey to participate. Such an arrangement, staffed by multilingual personnel, would provide a crucial communication link to prevent future kinetic interactions.

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Israel repeatedly warned Syria that such a deployment would pose a threat to Israel’s security. Syria chose to ignore these warnings.

"Diplomatic discourse is the best prevention to kinetic interactions," Barrack stated, highlighting the importance of maintaining open lines of communication between the nations involved. He believes that establishing a standing, full-time deconfliction cell, whether formal or informal, is essential for managing regional security dynamics.

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We are currently engaged in quiet discussions with all the relevant parties about relaunching a deconfliction cell between Israel and Syria. Turkey can be invited to be a direct or indirect participant.