Turkey, “Israel” hold talks over Syria

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said Wednesday his country is holding talks on a “technical level” with “Israel” aimed at de-escalating tensions over Syria, but emphasized that the discussions do not signal a move toward normalizing diplomatic relations.

Turkey has been a key backer of the opposition coalition in Syria, which succeeded in toppling President Bashar al-Assad in December after nearly 14 years of uprising.

Ankara’s growing influence in northern Syria has raised concerns in “Israel”, which has carried out repeated airstrikes and ground incursions to push back Syrian government forces from its borders.

"Now, as we carry out certain operations in Syria, there needs to be a mechanism to avoid clashes with Israel, whose aircraft are also flying in that area—just as we have with the Americans and the Russians," Fidan told CNN Türk.

"Of course, it’s only natural for there to be technical-level contacts to establish such coordination," he added.

However, Fidan ruled out any move toward normalization with “Israel”, particularly amid heightened tensions following “Israel’s” aggression against the Gaza Strip.

Turkey has suspended trade with “Israel”, and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has accused Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of committing "state terrorism" and "genocide" in Gaza, in the wake of the events of Oct. 7, 2023.

Earlier this week, former US President Donald Trump, speaking alongside Netanyahu at the White House, offered to mediate between “Israel” and Turkey, citing his "great relationship" with Erdoğan.