US Ambassador to Turkey and Syria Envoy Tom Barrack visits Israel, Turkish Defense Minister Güler rules out Turkish withdrawal from Syria

TEL AVIV / ANKARA — US Ambassador to Turkey and Special Envoy to Syria Thomas Barrak met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other senior officials during a visit to Israel, while Turkish Defense Minister Yaşar Güler reaffirmed Ankara’s position against withdrawing its troops from Syrian territory. 

Barak’s visit to Israel focused on escalating tensions between Israel, Syria, and Turkey. During his stay, Barrack conducted a field tour of the occupied Syrian Golan Heights alongside Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz, Minister of National Security Ron Dermer, and senior military officials. 

The visit coincided with Israeli airstrikes on military targets in southern Syria. The Israeli Army stated that the strikes were in response to two rockets launched from Syrian territory toward the Golan Heights. 

Barrack later met with Prime Minister Netanyahu to discuss developments in Syria and broader regional dynamics. He also confirmed plans to meet other officials to address rising tensions between Tel Aviv and Ankara and reiterated US President Donald Trump’s stance that Syria must not be used as a platform for any country to threaten its neighbors, including Israel. 

Meanwhile, Turkish Defense Minister Yaşar Güler told Reuters that Turkey has no immediate plans to withdraw its over 20,000 troops stationed in Syria. Güler stated that any reassessment would only occur after peace and stability are restored in Syria, terrorism threats are eliminated, Turkey’s southern borders are secured, and displaced Syrians can safely return home. 

Güler emphasized that Turkey supports Syria’s territorial integrity and described Turkey’s role as providing “training and advisory services” to Syrian forces, without offering further specifics. 

The developments underscore the growing complexity of the situation in Syria, as regional and international powers navigate a volatile and evolving landscape.