The US ambassador to Turkey and special envoy to Syria, Tom Barrack, has criticised Israel over its recent military strikes in Syria. Barrack said Israel carried out the attacks without giving any prior warning. He described the action as an "unnecessary escalation" during an interview on Friday, according to Al Jazeera. Barrack said the strikes on the Abu Duhur military base in northern Syria could have been intended to “bait the Turks”. Turkey has significant influence in northern Syria and has been increasing its military and political involvement in the country. The US diplomat warned that the Israeli operation could have created a dangerous situation between Israel and Turkey. He said any confrontation between the two countries could have widened the existing tensions in West Asia. Israel, however, rejected Barrack's account. Israeli officials said the United States had been informed about the planned military operation before the strikes took place.

Israel Rejects US Envoy's Claims

Israeli officials strongly criticised Barrack's comments. Israel has repeatedly warned Turkey against expanding its military presence in Syria. Israeli authorities view Turkey's growing role in the country as a potential security challenge. Israel's Defence Minister Israel Katz responded to Barrack in a social media post on Saturday. Katz said Israel had provided the United States with information about the planned operation before the attack. Katz said the country had shared “intelligence information with the authorised parties in the United States” before the strikes, which took place on Tuesday. The conflicting statements have highlighted differences between Washington and Tel Aviv over how Israel should deal with Turkey's growing presence in Syria.

Israel and Turkey Face Rising Tensions

Relations between Israel and Turkey have become increasingly tense in recent months. Israel has stepped up its warnings about Turkey's expanding regional influence and growing military role in Syria. Israeli officials increasingly see Turkey as a possible rival in the region. Ankara, meanwhile, has repeatedly criticised Israeli military actions and described Israel's recent moves as "reckless". Turkey's involvement in Syria has become a particularly sensitive issue. Ankara has security interests in northern Syria and maintains significant influence there. Israel is concerned that an expanded Turkish military presence could affect its own security calculations.

US Tries to Prevent Wider Conflict

Against this backdrop, the United States has been trying to reduce tensions between Israel and Turkey. Washington has sought to encourage dialogue between the two countries and prevent their rivalry from developing into a direct confrontation. The situation has also created a difficult challenge for Syria's interim government. Interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa has built close ties with both the United States and Turkey. He has repeatedly said that Syria does not want a conflict with Israel. The latest dispute over the Israeli strikes has therefore added another layer of tension to an already complicated regional situation. Any direct confrontation between Israel and Turkey could further destabilise Syria and create wider security concerns across West Asia.