Türkiye, Israel set up hotline over Syria tensions

Türkiye and Israel have established a hotline to prevent possible military flare-ups and misunderstandings in Syria, following talks held between the two countries in April, two sources familiar with the issue told Middle East Eye, Report informs.

Turkish and Israeli officials have been meeting in the Azerbaijani capital Baku since April for direct talks to resolve their differences regarding Syria.

While Ankara emerged as a key actor following the ouster of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in December, the Israeli government expressed deep concern over the new status quo, publicly opposing any Turkish military deployment to the country.

Several individuals and security sources from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government repeatedly referred to Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa's government as "radical jihadists" and stated that Israel would not tolerate Türkiye taking over airbases near Palmyra, a key location in the fight against the Islamic State group (IS).

However, both countries engaged in talks in April, with Azerbaijani mediation, to work out a deconfliction mechanism to avert future possible military conflict.

While further talks, a fifth round, are scheduled for later this month on a broader deconfliction deal, a 24/7 hotline was established in April to quickly resolve any accidental military tensions.

Turkish defence ministry sources, speaking to MEE, said they had nothing to announce yet.

Although Turkish officials have repeatedly stated they would not allow a "sphere of influence" in Syria that would permit countries like Israel to strike areas at will, sources said the discussions are focusing on finding a way forward that could satisfy both countries' concerns.

A source familiar with the negotiations said the Israeli government was largely comfortable with Türkiye deploying land forces, including tanks and infantry, in Syria.

However, the main question was where Ankara would place its air defence systems and radars, which could monitor Israeli air operations.

"The talks progress positively and the discussion is focusing on the so-called Palmyra line," the source said. "Those bases represent a grey zone; the Israelis could be amenable to Turkish deployments north of that area."