Israel and Turkey have recently discussed creating a coordination mechanism in Syria in efforts to prevent friction, a source familiar with details told The Jerusalem Post on Wednesday.
According to the source, the two countries are looking to “establish a mechanism similar to the one that had existed with Russia” during the rule of Bashar al-Assad in Syria. The source noted that the mechanism “successfully prevented unnecessary friction” between Moscow and Jerusalem in the past.
The talks between the two nations are at a preliminary stage, the source added.
The source’s comments to the Post came after Turkish Foreign Minister veer Hakan Fidan publicly said on Wednesday that Israel and Turkey had held talks aimed at reducing tensions. "We have no intention of confronting any country within Syria, including Israel," the foreign minister said in comments to CNN’s Turkish affiliate CNN Türk.
These developments follow recent Israeli on several military bases in Syrian territory, in what was described as a message to Turkey against attempting to establish permanent bases in the country.
Turkey had intended to set up a drone base at the Syrian military’s T4 base and serve as the country's ‘air umbrella,’ which would have restricted Israeli operations in Syrian skies.
Additionally on Wednesday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told security cabinet ministers that Israel is not seeking confrontation with Turkey, but added, "We will not hesitate to act when necessary to defend ourselves."
Netanyahu also told the ministers that he would seek assistance from US President Donald Trump if needed, given his close relationship with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Azerbaijan mediating recent talks
Further, Azerbaijan has been mediating the recent talks between Israel and Turkey, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev revealed on Wednesday in a speech in Baku.
"Both countries are close friends of Azerbaijan. With Turkey, we are allies, and Israel is a friendly state to Azerbaijan, and over many years, this mutual friendship has been proven in difficult times for both of us. Therefore, this tension between the two countries is very troubling and a matter of concern for us," the Azerbaijani president said.
Aliyev added that Azerbaijan's mediation led to the end of a long period of tension between Israel and Turkey, marked by President Isaac Herzog's official state visit to Turkey in 2022 - and that they are now trying to achieve the same outcome.
"It is always bad when your friends have poor relations; it is bad for them, bad for us, and bad for the world. I believe that despite legitimate concerns and the relatively high level of mistrust, it is still possible to find a basis for normalization and areas of mutual interest."