US envoy says Israel's Syria air base strike used wrong intelligence

US Ambassador to Turkey and special envoy for Syria and Iraq, Tom Barrack, stated that the intelligence used by Israel to justify an airstrike on the Abu al-Duhur Military Air Base in Syria was incorrect. The strike, which targeted the abandoned base in Idlib province, was reportedly based on claims by the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office that Turkish soldiers were attempting to settle at the base and deploy military installations.

Barrack noted that US intelligence agencies investigated these claims and found them to be untrue. He suggested there may have been a “miscommunication” between the Israeli army, Mossad, and the Prime Minister’s Office. He further clarified that neither the United States nor Turkey was notified of the operation in advance.

In related commentary, Barrack suggested the possibility that Israel might have been “baiting the Turks,” warning that such actions could potentially lead to a larger conflict. His remarks have drawn criticism from those who argue his stance aligns too closely with Ankara's interests while questioning Israeli military actions.