Turkish and Israeli officials have begun technical talks in Azerbaijan to establish a communication mechanism aimed at preventing military clashes in Syria, where both nations are active.
The move comes amid heightened tensions and recent Israeli airstrikes targeting potential Turkish deployment sites.
Turkish and Israeli officials have launched preliminary talks in Azerbaijan to prevent military confrontations in Syria, according to Turkish defense sources and an Israeli political official.
The discussions mark a significant step toward managing tensions in a region where both countries have deployed military forces amid complex and overlapping interests.
The Turkish Defense Ministry confirmed that the meeting, held on Wednesday, initiated a technical dialogue aimed at avoiding “unwanted incidents or misunderstandings” in Syria. “Efforts will continue to establish this mechanism,” a Turkish official said, suggesting the talks are part of a longer-term plan to develop a structured deconfliction channel.
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An Israeli political source confirmed the meeting and emphasized that Israel reiterated its “red lines” during the discussions — particularly opposing any permanent Turkish military presence in the central Syrian city of Palmyra. “Any change in the deployment of foreign forces in Syria – and in particular the establishment of Turkish bases in the Palmyra area – is a red line,” the source stated.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office also confirmed the meeting, which was led by National Security Advisor Tzachi Hanegbi. While the statement did not elaborate on the discussions, it acknowledged the importance of direct communication amid the evolving security landscape in Syria.
The initiative comes in the wake of intensified Israeli airstrikes across Syria last week, which were interpreted as a signal to the newly restructured Syrian government and a direct warning against what Israel perceives as Turkish encroachment.
Israel has publicly accused Turkey of seeking to transform parts of Syria into a Turkish protectorate — an accusation Ankara strongly denies.
Last week, Reuters reported that Turkish military teams had inspected several Syrian air bases as part of a possible joint defense pact with Damascus — a move that preceded the Israeli airstrikes. The inspections were seen as Turkey’s preparation to potentially deploy forces more permanently in Syria, raising alarms in Tel Aviv.
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Despite these tensions, both Ankara and Tel Aviv have publicly stated that they do not seek a confrontation in Syria. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, speaking to CNN Turk on Wednesday, confirmed the talks and likened them to deconfliction mechanisms that Turkey has with the United States and Russia.
“These mechanisms are necessary,” Fidan said. “In such a complex operational theater like Syria, coordination is crucial to prevent direct or indirect conflict between forces on the ground.”
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The talks come against the backdrop of strained Turkish-Israeli relations, worsened by Israel’s ongoing military operations in Gaza since 2023. However, the initiation of a dialogue on Syria suggests a pragmatic shift by both nations toward avoiding escalation in a theater that remains critical to their national security interests.
Further negotiations are expected, but no timeline or structure for a formal deconfliction mechanism has yet been announced.
