Israel’s strike on a Syrian air base nearly triggered a direct military confrontation with Türkiye, according to U.S. Ambassador to Türkiye Tom Barrack, who said Israeli aircraft approached within about 80 kilometers of the Turkish border without notifying Ankara.
Barrack said Israel had received intelligence suggesting Türkiye might be moving military equipment or personnel onto a Syrian air base. Washington checked the information and determined that the deployment was not taking place.
The issue was then discussed through diplomatic channels, including what Barrack described as a two-hour backchannel conversation between Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani and Mossad chief David Barnea.
But Israeli aircraft appeared anyway.
Israel struck runways at the Syrian base without notifying either Washington or Türkiye, Barrack said in an interview with PBS NewsHour.
