Israel 'baited' Turkey with Abu al-Duhur airbase 'pre-election' strike, US Envoy Tom Barrack says

According to US Special Envoy to Syria Tom Barrack, Israel's pre-election strike on the Abu al-Duhur military base in Syria may have been intended to provoke Turkey, potentially influencing the country's political climate ahead of its elections. Barrack suggested this theory during an interview, acknowledging it as one of several possibilities rather than an intelligence conclusion.

The Israeli attack nearly led to a direct military confrontation with Turkey, a NATO member and one of the United States' most important allies in the region. Barrack emphasized that such a scenario could have escalated into a dangerous confrontation, even hinting at the possibility of "World War III," although he stressed that neither side intends to reach such a confrontation.

Barrack also discussed the potential for intelligence suggesting Turkish military personnel or assets could be stationed at the Syrian base, leading Israel to raise the concern with the US. However, the intelligence was later disproven, and the strike proceeded without Turkey being warned.

The incident occurred amid reports of behind-the-scenes contacts between Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani and the Mossad chief, lasting about two hours. Despite these diplomatic efforts, Israeli Air Force aircraft struck the base's runways without advance warning.

Barrack highlighted the importance of restraint from both Turkey and Israel, stating that the Turkish public is particularly sensitive to developments in Gaza. He noted that Turkey's growing influence in Syria is raising concerns among other actors but expressed hope that the sides can maintain restraint.