US working on deconfliction mechanism among Turkey, Israel and Syria, US envoy says
Washington Pushes Deconfliction Channel Linking Ankara, Jerusalem, and Damascus
Bharatmorningnews.com – Following Israeli airstrikes on a Syrian airbase close to the Turkish frontier, U.S. special envoy for Syria Tom Barrack confirmed on Tuesday that Washington is actively constructing a deconfliction framework connecting Israel, Turkey, and Syria. Barrack, who simultaneously holds the post of U.S. ambassador to Turkey, made the remarks in a telephone interview with Reuters out of Geneva.
The Strike and Turkey’s Reaction
Israel launched eight airstrikes against the runway and storage installations at the Abu al-Dahur airbase in northwestern Syria, according to state-run Ekhbariya television, which cited a military source. A separate military official and a civilian resident near the site confirmed that no casualties resulted from the attacks.
Ankara publicly condemned the strikes but offered no further commentary, including on whether a formal deconfliction arrangement was under discussion. Barrack noted that Turkey received no advance warning of the Israeli operation.
“and consequently observed the aircraft heading north toward its territory and therefore could have reasonably prepared its own response”
he explained, alluding to the possibility of a Turkish military counter-move. He added:
“Thankfully, calm heads were able to prevent the situation from deteriorating further.”
Why the Mechanism Matters
A deconfliction mechanism functions as a dedicated communications channel designed to avert misunderstandings or accidental clashes between rival military or political actors. Barrack argued that the morning’s incident underscored the urgency of building such a structure.
“This underscores the need for a deconfliction mechanism involving Israel, Syria and Türkiye. That is something we are actively working on to establish in order to prevent future miscommunication.”
He stressed that the immediate goal is to reduce friction and create room for a more calibrated diplomatic approach.
Turkey’s Growing Role in Syria
Tensions between Israel and Turkey — both of which share a border with Syria — have intensified, with rhetoric on both sides growing sharper. Ankara, home to NATO’s second-largest armed force, signed a mutual defence pact with Pakistan and Saudi Arabia earlier this month and has emerged as one of the principal allies of Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa.
Turkish officials have been training Syria’s military, assisting in the reconstruction of state institutions and infrastructure, and extending both military and diplomatic backing to Damascus. Barrack suggested the Israeli strikes stemmed from a perception — accurate or not — that Turkey might soon expand its footprint at the Abu al-Dahur facility.
Background on the Airbase and Broader Conflict
Situated roughly 70 kilometres east of the Turkish border, the airbase has operated outside its original role as a dedicated military airfield since 2013. During Syria’s 14-year civil war, it changed hands multiple times between forces loyal to former President Bashar al-Assad and various opposition factions.
For years, Israel has targeted locations inside Syria to counter what it describes as Iranian influence and to block weapons flows toward Hezbollah in Lebanon. Since Assad’s overthrow in 2024, the Israeli military has regarded Syria’s new leadership with suspicion and continued operations inside the country, most recently striking government installations in southern and central Syria in March.
Multiple rounds of de-escalation and border talks have taken place between Damascus and Jerusalem since rebel forces under al-Sharaa’s command toppled Assad, yet no formal agreement has materialised. Barrack viewed the latest incident as evidence that these efforts must be accelerated and broadened.
“An incident of the kind that occurred this morning demonstrates the need to intensify these efforts and expand the process.”
Washington’s Existing Role and Cost Argument
The envoy noted that the United States already brokers an information-sharing and dialogue arrangement among the three parties. However, he argued that a more robust institutional architecture, backed by greater resources, is required.
“Investing in such mechanisms is far less costly than relying on kinetic means of communication that can run into the hundreds of millions of dollars.”
By “kinetic means,” Barrack referred to the use of military force.
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