Statement from Tom Barrack on Israel-Turkey tension: 'A conflict could have broken out'

U.S. Ambassador to Ankara and Special Envoy for Syria Tom Barrack said that the attack carried out by Israel on the Abu al-Duhur Airbase in Syria was of a nature that could have created direct military tension between Turkey and Israel.

Speaking to content creator Mario Nawfal, Barrack stated that Israeli warplanes advanced to within approximately 80 kilometers of the Turkish border, and that Ankara was not notified of the operation in advance. According to Barrack, this situation could have been perceived as a direct threat by Turkish forces and could have led to an unintended military response.

Finding it risky for warplanes to be sent to the border of a country with a powerful army and air force like Turkey without notification, Barrack said, "Having warplanes at the border without any notification or agreement is a very dangerous game."

Barrack also suggested that Israel might have been trying to provoke Turkey with the attack. The U.S. diplomat assessed, "Israel might be provoking the Turks."

Comparing the potential consequences to Turkey's downing of a Russian warplane that violated its airspace in 2015, Barrack pointed out that a miscalculation could have brought the two countries to the point of direct conflict.

ANKARA WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ATTACK IN ADVANCE

Barrack said that before the attack, Israel had conveyed its security concerns to the U.S. and the Syrian administration. Stating that back-channel talks were held between the head of the Mossad and Syrian officials, Barrack noted that the Damascus administration had informed the Israeli side that there were no Turkish military convoys, arms shipments, or movements intended for attack in the region.

According to the U.S. ambassador, while the parties thought the dialogue would continue, Israel decided to attack two runways at the Abu al-Duhur base. Emphasizing that unannounced military moves in the current atmosphere of political tension could have severe consequences, Barrack said, "The real problem here was that Turkey did not know this was coming."

Barrack described what happened as an independent Israeli operation carried out without prior notification rather than a "miscommunication." Stating that Turkey could have scrambled its warplanes if it did not know the intentions of the Israeli aircraft, Barrack said, "The unintended consequence of a mistake could have been truly severe."

Expressing that the U.S.'s priority is to keep communication channels between the parties open, Barrack said that military surprises and the possibility of direct conflict must be prevented. Barrack noted that Turkey is not in an aggressive or military stance against Israel, and that Ankara aims for an independent and sovereign Syria.

Stating that Israel's security concerns regarding the new Syrian administration were initially understandable, Barrack nevertheless noted that the Abu al-Duhur attack damaged the trust that was being built between the parties and described the development as a "temporary setback."

Barrack argued that the election atmosphere in Israel might also have influenced the decision-making processes. Describing the attack as "very aggressive," Barrack stated that it might have been calculated to find support among certain segments of the Israeli public.

Touching on the Golan Heights in the interview, Barrack evaluated Israel's presence in the region as an "occupation" in terms of United Nations resolutions and international law. Barrack said, "Despite UN resolutions and the international order stating that the Golan belongs to Syria, Israel still occupies the Golan."

These remarks drew attention as a different line from the decision made by U.S. President Donald Trump in 2019 recognizing Israel's sovereignty over the Golan Heights. Israel had seized the Golan Heights in 1967 and later annexed them; this annexation is not recognized by most of the international community.

Stating that the problems between Turkey and Israel should be handled through direct contact or back-channel diplomacy rather than unilateral military steps, Barrack said, "The way to handle this is to talk to Turkey through back channels or directly, not to act unilaterally."

News Source: 12punto