US Ambassador to Turkey Tom Barak, who also serves as US President Donald Trump's Special Envoy for Syria.
US envoy warns 'Israeli' Syria strike risked direct conflict with Turkey
Note: AI technology was used to generate this article’s audio.
- US envoy warns Syria strike risked regional war.
- Abu Duhur strike nearly triggered Turkey conflict.
- Turkish forces unaware of 'Israeli' aircraft.
- Barak warns of dangerous escalation.
US Ambassador to Turkey Tom Barak, who also serves as US President Donald Trump's Special Envoy for Syria, warned that an 'Israeli' airstrike targeting a Syrian airbase risked triggering a direct military conflict between 'Israel', Turkey, and Syria.
Speaking in an interview with i24NEWS, Barak addressed the implications of the military strike carried out on the Abu Duhur military airbase in Syria.
"The Israeli airstrike yesterday on the Abu Duhur military airbase in Syria carried a real risk of rapid escalation into a direct military conflict between Israel and Turkey, as well as Syria," Barak stated.
Risk of miscalculation
Barak detailed the tactical communication breakdown that elevated the risk of an unintended engagement between regional militaries during the operation.
According to the US diplomat, Turkish forces were not informed in advance regarding the trajectory or objective of the incoming aircraft:
"Turkish forces did not know that Israeli aircraft were on their way to this specific Syrian base, and did not know what their target was, so they might have decided to scramble their own fighter jets in the belief that they themselves were under attack," Barak explained.
Reflecting on the overall fallout of the incident, Barak emphasized both the severity of the miscalculation risk and relief over the absence of casualties:
"Yesterday's events were serious and concerning. However, we are relieved that no human lives were harmed and that the situation did not escalate," Barak concluded in his interview with i24NEWS.
