‘Technical talks’ goal to arrange communications channel to keep away from clashes within the area, Turkish official says.
Turkish and Israeli officers have begun talks aimed toward easing tensions in Syria, the place the militaries of each international locations are lively, officers from either side say.
Israel has launched hundreds of air strikes in Syria and deployed troops to a United Nations-patrolled buffer zone within the Golan Heights since opposition fighters eliminated President Bashar al-Assad in December.
Turkiye is a key backer of the interim authorities in Syria, the place its help consists of operations in opposition to the ISIL (ISIS) armed group.
Turkish Overseas Minister Hakan Fidan confirmed on Wednesday that technical talks with Israel had been beneath manner, emphasising that deconfliction mechanisms had been mandatory to forestall misunderstandings between the 2 regional powers’ forces.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s workplace stated in an announcement on Thursday that the 2 sides “agreed to proceed the dialogue with the intention to protect regional stability”.
The talks come as the 2 sides pursue competing pursuits in Syria. Turkish sources quoted by the information company Reuters stated the talks in Azerbaijan on Wednesday marked the start of efforts to arrange a communications channel to keep away from potential clashes or misunderstandings over army operations within the area.
“Efforts will proceed to ascertain this mechanism,” one of many Turkish sources stated, with out offering particulars on the scope or timeline of the talks.
A Turkish Ministry of Nationwide Defence official quoted by The Related Press information company stated assessments for the institution of a base for joint Turkish-Syrian coaching are ongoing, including that such actions adopted worldwide regulation “with out concentrating on third international locations”.
Israel has expressed issues that Syria’s new management will pose a risk alongside its border whereas Israel additionally reportedly needs to thwart Turkish affect in Syria. Netanyahu stated on Tuesday that Turkish bases in Syria can be a “hazard to Israel”.
An Israeli political supply quoted by Reuters stated that throughout the talks “Israel made it unequivocally clear that any change within the deployment of international forces in Syria – and specifically the institution of Turkish bases within the Palmyra space – is a pink line and might be thought of a breaking of the principles.”
In line with the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a United Kingdom-based conflict monitor, Israel’s army carried out greater than 500 air assaults on targets in Syria from December 8 to December 31 and has carried out at the very least 43 assaults thus far this yr. Syria’s Ministry of Overseas Affairs has accused Israel of waging a marketing campaign in opposition to “the soundness of the nation”.
Ties between Israel and Turkiye have deteriorated over Israel’s assault on Gaza. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has been an outspoken critic of Israel’s conflict, which has killed greater than 50,000 Palestinians.
