In a rare move, Turkish and Israeli officials convened in Azerbaijan this week for a technical-level meeting aimed at preventing military clashes in Syria, Türkiye’s Defense Ministry. The dialogue comes amid heightened tensions and overlapping military interests in the war-torn country.
The meeting, held on Wednesday, marks a cautious step toward establishing a conflict prevention mechanism between the two regional powers, whose diplomatic ties have long been fraught. Türkiye, which maintains a buffer zone in northern Syria, has called on Israel to halt its ongoing airstrikes in the region, warning that such actions undermine Syria’s territorial integrity and risk wider destabilization.
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In a strongly worded statement, the Turkish Defense Ministry urged Israel to abandon what it labeled an “expansionist, occupying stance.” Ankara also made clear that while it does not seek conflict, it reserves the right to act if its national security is threatened by developments in Syria.
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan reiterated that Türkiye would pursue diplomatic channels but criticized Israel’s military approach as preemptive and destabilizing. The exchange follows President Erdoğan’s recent condemnation of Israeli actions in Gaza and the West Bank, and Türkiye’s suspension of trade with Israel, along with its application to join a genocide case at the International Court of Justice.
During a recent visit to Washington, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sought support from former U.S. President Donald Trump, only to receive a measured response. Trump praised Erdoğan as “smart and tough” and encouraged both nations to resolve their differences through dialogue.
