Mossad Director Roman Gofman spoke with Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani on August 14 about Turkey's growing military entrenchment in Syria, Reuters reports. The conversation took place days before the Israeli strike on the Abu al-Duhur airbase, which Israel says was intended to prevent the deployment of Turkish forces there.
A new Reuters report published today (Thursday) specifies that Mossad Director Roman Gofman and Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani spoke on August 14 about Turkey's growing military entrenchment in Syria. The disclosure adds precise substance to accounts of the conversation first revealed Wednesday evening and places the diplomatic exchange days before the Israeli strike on the Abu al-Duhur airbase.
On Wednesday at 20:14 Jerusalem time, initial Reuters reports said the call occurred ahead of an Israeli airstrike but withheld its content. Simultaneously, N12 journalist Asaf Rozentzweig reported the date as August 14 and the topic as the Turkish military presence in Syria. Shortly afterward, Bloomberg described the call as a "warning call" and noted it was the first between Gofman and a Syrian official since he took office in June. The evolution moved from a bare report to a confirmed date, stated topic, and defined diplomatic context.
The Zioneer has tracked Israeli concerns over Turkish expansion in Syria for weeks. On July 5, we reported that the Trump-Erdogan meeting stoked Israeli concerns over Turkish regional influence, citing fears of F-35 reintegration and military entrenchment near Israel's northern border. On July 9, we reported that Prime Minister Netanyahu raised Erdogan's hostility and the need for border security zones in a call with Trump. On July 19, Minister Eli Cohen warned that if Turkey establishes bases in Syria, Israel would as well. Following the airstrike on the Abu al-Duhur airbase, a security source told Kan News that Israel attempted to reach understandings with Syria beforehand. Netanyahu said Israel "made sure Turkey understood" after warnings on Syrian military buildup.
The full content of the Gofman-Shaibani conversation remains undisclosed, including any specific Israeli demands or Turkish responses. Syrian and Turkish official positions on the call have not been confirmed.
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
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