Media: Mossad chief held talks with Syrian FM before airbase strike

Mossad chief Roman Gofman held several telephone conversations with Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani before Israel carried out a strike on the Abu al-Zuhour airbase in northern Syria, according to Tom Barrack, the U.S. special envoy to Syria and Türkiye.

Syrian journalist Ibrahim Hamidi, cited Barrack's interview on X, reporting that during the call, Gofman reportedly raised concerns over Turkish military activity at the airbase and the possible deployment of drones there, Caliber.Az reports. 

مقابلة مهمة مع @USAMBTurkiye عن الضربة الاسرائيلية على مطار ابو الظهور وتداعياتها على تركيا.
يقول توم باراك في مقابلته مع @MarioNawfal :
تلقت إسرائيل معلومات استخباراتية تشير إلى احتمال أن تكون تركيا بصدد نقل معدات عسكرية إلى قاعدة جوية سورية.

تحققت واشنطن من الأمر، وتأكدت أن… https://t.co/ZjToGjjNsC

— Ibrahim Hamidi ابراهيم حميدي (@ibrahimhamidi) August 22, 2026

Al-Shaibani assured him that any equipment at the facility would be used to combat the Islamic State group, protect Syria’s borders and counter smuggling, rather than for operations against Israel.

According to the sources, U.S.-mediated contacts between Damascus and Israel continued until shortly before the strike. The Syrian government was reportedly caught off guard by the attack, as discussions over the situation at the airbase were still underway immediately beforehand.

By Sabina Mammadli