Israel and Turkey Reach Military Coordination Agreement in Syria
While Israel reportedly agreed to deconfliction measures, it reaffirmed its long-standing demand that southern Syria remain a demilitarized zone.
By Ahora Qadi
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – Israel and Turkey have reached a preliminary understanding on military coordination inside Syria aimed at avoiding direct confrontation between their forces, according to an Israeli official who spoke to Israel Hayom on Wednesday.
The agreement, which emerged from discreet talks mediated by Azerbaijan in Baku, reflects a growing need to manage overlapping military presences in Syria amid a recalibrated regional power balance following the collapse of the Assad regime in December 2024.
“The sides have agreed to establish a permanent mechanism to prevent military friction in Syria,” the Israeli official confirmed, noting that the framework was finalized during the Baku meetings.
While Israel reportedly agreed to deconfliction measures, it reaffirmed its long-standing demand that southern Syria remain a demilitarized zone. This position was emphasized in both the Baku meetings and during ongoing Israeli air operations targeting military assets in Syrian territory.
Turkish-Israeli Rivalry Surfaces in Post-Assad Syria
The talks mark a rare moment of coordination between two influential regional actors who have historically stood on opposite sides of several conflicts. However, the post-Assad vacuum has introduced new geopolitical imperatives.
Hebrew media also reported that two high-level meetings between Israeli and Turkish representatives were held in Baku. The primary focus was to defuse the mounting crisis and avoid escalation in contested Syrian zones.
Israeli Concerns Over Turkish Military Expansion
According to Israel Hayom, the Tel Aviv delegation used the Baku meetings to raise three core demands, including a warning that Turkish military bases near Palmyra would cross a “red line.”
“Any change in the deployment of foreign forces in Syria, particularly the establishment of Turkish bases, will be considered a breach of trust,” the source added.
While the mechanism agreed upon is intended to minimize risks of unintended clashes, no date has been set for the next round of talks, though similar meetings are expected to continue under Azerbaijani mediation.
