Israel and Turkey are working on establishing a deconfliction mechanism in Syria as both continue to operate in the country.
Israel and Turkey are engaged in ongoing negotiations to establish a deconfliction mechanism in Syria, aiming to prevent unintended military confrontations as both countries increase their presence in the region, Middle East Eye reported, citing Western officials.
The talks follow Israeli airstrikes last week on Syrian military targets, including the Tiyas (T4) and Hama air bases—sites where Turkey was reportedly preparing to deploy personnel and equipment. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, according to the officials, emphasized to his counterparts that Israel had a limited window to act before Turkish forces arrived.
Netanyahu reportedly stressed that once Turkish assets were in place, those bases would be off-limits to Israeli operations. This strategic calculation reflects Israel’s commitment to maintaining operational freedom in Syria, particularly to counter hostile threats.
Both sides appear to be coordinating diplomatically to avoid escalation. Identical public statements from Israeli and Turkish officials affirmed that neither seeks conflict in Syria—suggesting a shared understanding of the stakes involved. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan echoed this sentiment in comments to Reuters on Friday.
Despite Turkey’s plans to install air defence systems and operate from Syrian bases, Israeli officials believe there has been progress toward a working agreement. According to Western sources, Israel continues to push for the demilitarisation of southern Syria, which includes limiting Turkish presence in that area.
