Mossad Chief and Syrian Minister Discuss Turkish Military Presence

On August 14, Roman Gofman, the chief of Israel's Mossad, engaged in a significant phone call with Asaad al-Shaibani, Syria's foreign minister. This conversation focused on Turkey's military presence in Syria and occurred shortly before Israel bombed the Abu al-Duhur airbase. Sources indicate that this call represents one of the highest-level contacts between Israel and the Syrian government, which is led by President Ahmed al-Sharaa. Following the airstrikes, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed concerns that Damascus was allowing Turkish troops to deploy in Syria, which he warned could threaten Israel's security. The discussion between Gofman and Shaibani reportedly centered on Turkey's military activities, including the provision of arms and drones to the Syrian army. Turkey's defense ministry declined to comment on the matter, while the foreign ministry did not respond to inquiries. Netanyahu has made it clear that Israel will not tolerate a Turkish military establishment in Syria, reiterating that the country must heed Israel's warnings. In response, Turkey rejected Israel's allegations regarding its military position in Syria, asserting that it aims to work with the Syrian government to foster peace and stability. Meanwhile, U.S. officials are reportedly working to establish a mechanism for deconfliction among Israel, Turkey, and Syria, emphasizing the need for dialogue and information sharing among the parties involved.