In the context of ongoing tensions in Syria, Turkey's role in regional diplomacy is seen as pivotal to facilitating a long-term normalization between Syria and Israel. Analysts highlight Turkey's involvement in military deconfliction efforts and reconstruction plans as key factors that could position Ankara at the center of a Syria-Israel detente. In April 2025, senior Turkish and Israeli officials held secret talks in Baku, Azerbaijan, where the discussions were described as cordial despite the presence of an Iranian minister. During the same period, Israel targeted several Syrian air bases that were on the verge of being taken over by the Turkish military for training local forces and conducting anti-ISIS operations. Turkey's response to these strikes was measured, influenced by encouragement from the United States, opting to engage diplomatically with Israel rather than escalate militarily. Turkish officials have expressed reluctance to risk direct confrontation with Israel and have no intention of deploying air defense systems to deter Israeli strikes in Syria. While Turkey's Defense Ministry stated it would support Syria's defense and anti-terror efforts if requested, experts note that Turkey lacks effective options to counter Israeli military actions in Syria, especially given Israel's strong backing from the United States. This dynamic underscores Turkey's limited military leverage against Israel in the Syrian theater, reinforcing its preference for diplomatic engagement over confrontation.