Peace mechanism: Azerbaijan facilitates dialogue between Türkiye and Israel

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev held separate meetings with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa over the weekend as part of ongoing efforts to defuse tensions between Israel and Türkiye over developments in Syria.

The meetings took place on the sidelines of a diplomatic conference in the southern city of Antalya, according to a report by Israeli broadcaster Kan 11 on April 13, Caliber.Az reports via Israeli media.

Baku is reportedly aiming to reprise its role as a regional mediator, drawing on its success three years ago in facilitating the normalisation of relations between Israel and Türkiye.

A source familiar with the talks expressed cautious optimism, noting that a confrontation between Israel and Türkiye in Syria is both preventable and unnecessary. The source suggested that each country could maintain its interests in the region while clearly defining red lines to avoid escalation.

Commenting on earlier discussions held in Baku, the source said the meetings were largely exploratory, with participants focused on listening to one another in preparation for future talks.

Analysts warn that a failure to resolve the growing friction would primarily serve the interests of Iran and Russia—two powers whose influence in Syria has diminished but who are seen as eager to exploit any fresh instability.

Tensions have mounted following a series of Israeli airstrikes in Syria, particularly in the Palmyra area and near the T4 airbase. The operations reportedly targeted strategic military assets and advanced weaponry remnants from the Assad era, which Israel fears could fall into the hands of emerging Syrian factions. Concurrently, there have been reports of Türkiye seeking to extend its influence over certain regions in Syria.

Talks between Israel and Türkiye have been ongoing, with the next round scheduled to take place after Passover. The decision to continue dialogue was made during the meetings in Azerbaijan, though no agreement has yet been reached on mechanisms to ease tensions or avoid potential military conflict.

Diplomats are now working towards establishing a formal structure to prevent direct clashes between Israeli and Turkish forces operating within Syria.

By Aghakazim Guliyev