Report: Israel and Turkey Reach Military Coordination Agreement on Syria
By Kardo Roj
DAMASCUS, Syria (North Press) – Israel and Turkey have reached an understanding to coordinate their military activities in Syria, aiming to prevent potential confrontations between their forces, the Israeli newspaper Israel Hayom reported Wednesday, citing an official Israeli source.
The report comes amid growing tensions between the two regional powers over their respective roles in the Syrian conflict. In recent months, rhetoric from both sides escalated, with mutual accusations and threats, particularly concerning operations in northern and southern Syria.
According to the unnamed Israeli source quoted by Israel Hayom, Israel reaffirmed its position that southern Syria must remain a demilitarized zone. This long-standing stance has been central to Israel’s security strategy along its northern border.
In parallel reporting, Israel’s public broadcaster Kan noted that representatives from Ankara and Tel Aviv are set to resume direct talks on Thursday in Baku, Azerbaijan. The Azerbaijani government has reportedly facilitated the meetings, playing a mediating role in the discussions between the two nations.
The source added that during the Baku negotiations, the parties agreed on “a permanent mechanism to prevent military friction inside Syria.” While the specifics of the mechanism remain undisclosed, it is expected to involve regular communication and deconfliction protocols. No date has been set for the next round of talks.
Despite their historical tensions, Israel and Turkey have shown signs of cautious rapprochement in recent years, particularly around issues of regional security and intelligence-sharing. However, their strategic priorities in Syria have often diverged, with Turkey backing opposition factions in the north—including the Syrian National Army (SNA)—and Israel focusing on curbing Iranian military entrenchment in the south.
The reported coordination deal could have implications for the wider Syrian conflict, especially in contested regions with active international and local military forces. In the northeast, the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) continue to maintain relative security and administrative stability under the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES), supported by international anti-ISIS coalitions.
It remains unclear whether the agreement between Israel and Turkey will impact other actors on the ground, including the SDF or various armed factions in the northwest, but analysts say reduced friction between regional powers may open limited space for de-escalation in certain areas.
As of Wednesday, neither the Turkish nor Israeli governments have officially commented on the reported deal. Further developments are expected following the next round of talks in Baku.