Azerbaijan moves to calm Israel-Turkey tensions

Israeli sources have confirmed that Azerbaijan is conducting behind-the-scenes diplomatic efforts to ease tensions between Israel and Turkey. This follows a volatile week marked by an Israeli strike on a base in Syria, warnings from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to Ankara, and Turkey’s issuance of an arrest warrant and Interpol red notice request for the Israeli leader. An Azerbaijani official, expressing concern over the deteriorating relations between the two partners, questioned if both sides had lost their minds, emphasizing that immediate de-escalation is necessary to prevent potential conflict. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev previously facilitated direct dialogue in April 2025, hosting intelligence and security delegations in Baku to establish an operational coordination mechanism in Syria, which is now being targeted for revival. Meanwhile, reports indicate that Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani met with Mossad chief Roman Gofman following the strike on the Syrian base. Al-Shaibani told Reuters that while trust between Damascus and Israel is lacking, Syria is extending its hand for diplomacy. While the United States is also working to reduce tensions, reports suggest significant Israeli distrust toward U.S. envoy Tom Barrack, further positioning Azerbaijan as a uniquely trusted intermediary for both parties.