Fri Apr 11 22:24:09 UTC 2025: ## Israel and Turkey Hold Secret Talks to Avert Syrian Conflict
**BAKU, AZERBAIJAN** – Israel and Turkey are engaged in discreet talks in Azerbaijan aimed at preventing a direct military confrontation in Syria, sources reveal. Both nations have troops deployed in Syria and accuse each other of undermining regional stability.
The talks come amidst escalating tensions. Israel has launched hundreds of airstrikes in Syria since the beginning of the civil war, targeting military infrastructure and Iranian-backed forces. Turkey, meanwhile, has deployed troops in northern Syria and is accused by Israel of seeking to establish a Turkish protectorate.
Ankara contends that Israeli airstrikes and expansion into the occupied Golan Heights further destabilize Syria, hindering the new government’s reconstruction efforts. Conversely, Israel accuses Turkey of exacerbating the conflict and threatening Israeli security interests.
Experts, including Barin Kayaoglu (Assistant Professor at the Institute for Area Studies, Social Sciences University of Ankara), Joshua Landis (Director of the Center for Middle East Studies, University of Oklahoma), and Alon Liel (former director at the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs), are closely monitoring the situation. The success of these delicate negotiations remains uncertain, but their very existence underscores the growing concern of a potential direct clash between the two regional powers on Syrian soil. The outcome will have significant implications for the ongoing Syrian conflict and regional security.
First Piper 