Kathmandu— United States ambassador to Turkiye and special envoy to Syria Tom Barrack has accused Israel of failing to provide adequate warning before conducting military strikes in Syria earlier this week, targeting the Abu Duhur military base in northern Syria. The attacks, which Barrack described as an “unnecessary escalation,” have drawn criticism from both US and Turkish officials, while Israeli authorities maintain they shared intelligence with appropriate parties prior to the operation. The incident highlights growing tensions between Israel and Turkiye regarding regional influence in Syria.

Conflicting Accounts of Prior Notification

Barrack stated in a Friday interview that Israel offered no warning before the strikes, suggesting the attacks may have been intended to provoke Turkiye, which holds significant sway in the region. Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz vehemently denied Barrack’s claim, asserting via social media on Saturday that “intelligence information” had been shared with authorized US parties prior to Tuesday's strike. This discrepancy has fueled a diplomatic dispute between the two countries.

Regional Tensions and Accusations

Israel has increasingly viewed Turkiye as a potential rival seeking to expand its regional influence, leading to heightened tensions in recent months. Israeli officials have warned Turkiye against increasing its military presence in Syria. In response, Turkiye condemned the Israeli strikes as “reckless.” Barrack indicated that US assessment concluded the purported Turkish military activity at Abu Duhur base was “not happening”.

Syrian Government Response

Syria’s interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa has emphasized his government's lack of interest in conflict with Israel, while Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani confirmed that Damascus had informed Israel there were no plans for a Turkish military base at Abu Duhur. He clarified that recent Turkish military presence at the facility was limited to routine cooperation involving training and expertise exchange.

US Policy of Support for Israel

Despite occasional criticism of Israeli actions, the US under former President Donald Trump has largely maintained a policy of unwavering support for Israel. Katz criticized Barrack’s comments as inaccurate and contradictory to Trump's stance on Israel’s occupation of Syria’s Golan Heights – territory annexed by Israel in 2019, a move recognized by the Trump administration despite its status as occupied land under international law. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu justified this week’s attacks by claiming fears that Turkiye was preparing to deploy troops to Abu Duhur, allegations which Turkiye and Barrack both dispute.

The situation remains tense with ongoing disagreements between US officials and Israel regarding the notification of strikes and the presence of foreign forces in Syria. Further diplomatic efforts are expected to de-escalate tensions and prevent further escalation.

(With inputs from Al Jazeera)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.