LiveLive Updates August 19, 2026Share to FacebookShare to XArticle printing is available to subscribers onlyPrint in a simple, ad-free formatSubscribeComments: Zen reading is available to subscribers onlyAd-free and in a comfortable reading formatSubscribeAugust 19, 2026UpdatesSources: Mossad chief spoke with Syria's foreign minister, discussed Turkish military deployments before strikesThe head ‌of Israel's Mossad spy agency, Roman ⁠Gofman, held a phone call ⁠with Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani last week in which they discussed Turkey's military presence in Syria, ‌three people familiar with the matter ‌said.Maj. Gen. Roman Gofman Credit: IDF Spokesperson's UnitMaj. Gen. Roman Gofman Credit: IDF Spokesperson's UnitThe call, which the sources said took place on August 14, came days before Israel launched airstrikes on a Syrian military airbase in the north of the country on Tuesday.It ⁠marks one of the highest-level contacts yet between Israel and ‌the new ⁠Syrian government since the ‌fall of former dictator Bashar al-Assad in December 2014.The Israeli prime ⁠minister's office, which handles queries regarding Mossad, did not immediately respond to a request ‌for comment, nor did a spokesperson for Shaibani.Yair Golan condemns Israeli strike on Syrian air base, says it 'brings us closer to conflict with Turkey'The Democrats party leader, former IDF Deputy Chief of Staff Yair Golan, at a party event in Tel Aviv in July. Credit: Moti MilrodThe Democrats party leader, former IDF Deputy Chief of Staff Yair Golan, at a party event in Tel Aviv in July. Credit: Moti MilrodYair Golan, leader of the center-left the Democrats party, condemned the Israeli strikes on a Syrian air base that took place shortly after a Turkish delegation had reportedly visited the site on Tuesday."The strike in Syria is a provocative and dangerous move that brings us closer to a confrontation with Turkey and deepens the rift with our allies, chief among them the United States," Golan, who is a former IDF deputy chief of staff, wrote in a post on X.התקיפה בסוריה היא מהלך מתריס ומסוכן, שמקרב אותנו לעימות עם טורקיה ומעמיק את הקרע עם בעלות הברית שלנו, ובראשן ארה״ב.