Mossad Director Roman Gofman spoke with Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani in what Bloomberg described as a 'warning call,' according to Reuters and Bloomberg reports Wednesday. The two discussed Turkey's growing military footprint in Syria, during which Israel reiterated its red lines. The conversation is the first between Gofman and a senior Syrian official since he took office in June, Reuters reported.
Bloomberg described the telephone conversation between Mossad Director Roman Gofman and Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani as a 'warning call,' in which Israel reiterated its core security red lines regarding Turkey's expanding military presence in Syria. The disclosure by Reuters and Bloomberg on Wednesday evening confirms and expands on the initial report from N12 journalist Asaf Rozentzweig, which The Zioneer carried at 20:14 Jerusalem. That report identified the call as having taken place on August 14, making it the first such conversation between Gofman and a senior Syrian official since he assumed the role in June.
At 20:14 Jerusalem, The Zioneer reported, citing Rozentzweig's N12 report, that Gofman and al-Shaibani spoke specifically about the Turkish military buildup. At the same time, Reuters reported the call occurred ahead of an Israeli airstrike. The new Bloomberg report now adds the 'warning call' characterization, providing a clearer picture of Israeli messaging. The corroboration has thus evolved from a single Israeli news report to two international wire services offering a consistent account.
As The Zioneer reported at 21:13 Jerusalem on Wednesday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated earlier this week that Israel 'made sure Turkey understood' after warnings about Syrian military entrenchment. Earlier that morning, The Zioneer carried a security source statement that Israel had sought understandings with Syria before striking the Abu al-Duhur airbase. On July 9, Netanyahu raised Turkish President Erdogan's hostile rhetoric in a call with U.S. President Donald Trump. Trump, in June, said a clash between Israel and Turkey would not happen while he is in office. These antecedents place the Gofman call within a sustained Israeli diplomatic and military effort to prevent a permanent Turkish military foothold near Israel's borders.
It remains unclear whether al-Shaibani responded to Israel's red lines or if any mutual understanding resulted. The Syrian Foreign Ministry previously denied that any new security arrangement had been put in place with Israel. Whether the warning call will influence Turkey's actions on the ground is uncertain.
3 developments
- StrongMossad Chief, Syrian Foreign Minister Meet in Jordan to Restart Talks After Israeli Strike
- StrongIsrael says it sought understandings with Syria before airbase strike
- StrongPMO says Israel acted to counter Turkish military expansion toward its Syrian border
- DevelopingMinister Eli Cohen: 'If Turkey establishes bases in Syria, Israel will too'
Source and signal
- Open-source intake