Tom Barrack, the US ambassador to Turkey and special envoy for Syria and Iraq, says intelligence used by Israel before striking the abandoned Abu al-Duhur airbase in Syria was incorrect.
Barrack said he did not know the precise reason for the Israeli strike, but Israel had received intelligence suggesting that Turkey might be moving military personnel or equipment to the Syrian airbase.
According to Barrack, Israel shared that intelligence with Washington before the strike.
The US ambassador did not provide further details about the source of the intelligence or how it had been assessed. He emphasized, however, that the assessment indicating a Turkish military deployment to the base was not accurate.
The Abu al-Duhur airbase has been an important military site in Syria and has been used by different forces during the country’s years of conflict.
Barrack’s comments come as Turkey’s military and security role in Syria remains a closely watched issue for both Washington and Tel Aviv.
Any confirmed Turkish military deployment at Syrian military facilities could have significant implications for the regional security balance.
The claim that the Israeli strike was based on incorrect intelligence was made by Barrack and has not, in the information currently available, been independently substantiated.
