U.S. envoy says Israel gave no warning before Syria air base strike

President Donald Trump’s special envoy to Syria said Israel did not notify the United States before carrying out an airstrike on a northern Syrian air base, an operation that risked worsening tensions with Turkey.

Tom Barrack, who also served as the U.S. ambassador to Turkey, said the Israeli strike on the Abu Duhur air base this week came without advance warning to Washington, despite the possibility that the attack could trigger a conflict involving Turkey, a NATO member.

Barrack suggested the strike could have been an attempt to provoke Turkey, saying the possibility that Israel was “baiting the Turks” was particularly troubling.

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz disputed Barrack’s account, saying Israel had shared intelligence related to the operation with the appropriate U.S. authorities. Katz also said Israeli officials had warned senior members of Syria’s government.