Scoop: Syria and Israel move to defuse tensions after airbase bombing
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Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani, above, met with Israeli Mossad Director Roman Gofman on Sunday. (Photo by Rami Alsayed/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
High-level Israeli and Syrian officials met Sunday in an effort to lower the temperature between the countries after a recent airbase bombing, according to three sources with knowledge of the matter.
Why it matters: The meeting between Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani and the director of Israel's Mossad spy agency, Roman Gofman, took place days after an Israeli strike on a Syrian airbase sharply escalated tensions between the two countries.
Driving the news: On Tuesday, the Israeli Air Force dropped at least eight bombs on runways and hangars at the Abu al-Duhur airbase in northern Syria, about 45 miles from the Turkish border.
- Israel said the strike was aimed at preventing a Turkish military buildup at the base and that it had intelligence showing Turkey was planning to deploy drones and a radar system there.
- Israel also warned that if preparations for the Turkish deployment didn't stop, it would take military action.
- During behind-the-scenes discussions between Israel, Syria and the U.S., the Syrian government denied any intention to allow the Turkish military to establish a presence at the base.
- But Israel was unswayed and attacked the base in what it called a "warning shot."
- In recent days, Trump administration envoy Tom Barrack and other senior U.S. officials urged Israel, Turkey and Syria to resume dialogue.
What they're saying: The Israeli prime minister's office declined to comment and a spokesperson for al-Shaibani did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
- But on Wednesday, Al-Shaibani told Axios there "was no intention to establish a Turkish base there, nor to establish a permanent Turkish military presence or deploy Turkish forces at the site."
- Al-Shaibani acknowledged that Turkish military officers visited the base several days before the Israeli strike but said it was part of "ongoing military cooperation in the areas of training and the exchange of expertise."
- He added that he relayed this to the Israeli government ahead of the strike, but the Israelis went ahead anyway.
- Al-Shaibani said Syria is still ready for negotiations with Israel to de-escalate and reach a new security agreement.
- "But de-escalation cannot be the responsibility of one side alone. Israel must also reassess its policy towards Syria and recognise that continued military operations and attacks will not deliver long-term security, but will instead increase instability," he said.
