The United States continues to hold discussions with Israel, Turkey, and Syria amid recent regional tensions, with Washington saying that restraint and dialogue are the best way to prevent further escalation, a State Department spokesperson told Maariv.
"President Trump presented his clear vision for a prosperous Middle East and for a stable Syria, living in peace with itself and with its neighbors," the State Department spokesperson said. "We continue to hold discussions with Israel, Turkey, and Syria."
The spokesperson said that "[US] President [Donald] Trump's leadership in the Middle East has enabled productive discussions focused on respecting Syria's sovereignty and stability, supporting Israel's right to defend itself against security threats, and promoting prosperity for both countries."
The State Department spokesperson added: "The United States continues to believe that restraint and dialogue are the best way forward."
US on Syria strikes: 'Restraint and dialogue are the best way forward'
The US diplomatic effort is underway through multiple channels with Jerusalem, Damascus, and Ankara as Washington seeks to prevent recent tensions from escalating into a broader confrontation.
Direct contacts are also underway between Israel and Syria, focused on a meeting between Mossad chief Roman Gofman and Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al Shibani. Washington confirmed that it remains in contact with all three countries, but did not detail the extent of its role in mediating between them or its involvement in arranging the Gofman-al Shibani meeting and the discussions that preceded it.
The meeting between Gofman and al Shibani took place in Jordan as part of efforts to reduce tensions and renew security dialogue between Israel and Syria. The talks were held with American mediation following the recent escalation in Syria and amid concerns over possible friction between Israel and Turkey in the country.
The diplomatic efforts come amid tensions surrounding the Israeli strike on the Abu al Duhur base and Israeli concerns over an expanding Turkish military presence in Syria.
The dispute intensified after Tom Barrack, Trump's envoy to Syria and US ambassador to Turkey, publicly challenged the Israeli assessment that formed the basis of the strike. Defense Minister Israel Katz rejected his remarks, saying the attack was based on "clear intelligence information" that was also shared with the Americans.
Meanwhile, Israeli activity continued over the weekend in southern Syria. On Saturday, the IDF struck in the Beit Jinn area, saying the target was an operative who was in the final stages of preparing attacks against IDF forces. Damascus condemned the strike, claiming it constituted a violation of Syrian sovereignty.
Abu al Duhur dispute has implications for Syria's future security landscape
The dispute surrounding Abu al Duhur also has implications for Syria's future security landscape. Turkey plays a central role in supporting the new government in Damascus and seeks to help build state institutions and the Syrian military.
In Israel, there are concerns that an expanded Turkish military presence, particularly the deployment of air defense systems, radars, or forces at Syrian bases, could eventually restrict the Israeli Air Force's freedom of operation.
The American position on the sensitive issue matters because of Washington's relationships with all sides. The US supports Israel's right to defend itself while also seeking to stabilize Syria, strengthen the new government in Damascus, and prevent a confrontation between Israel and Turkey, its NATO ally and a major player in Syria.
In its response to Maariv, the State Department spokesperson explicitly mentioned "Israel's right to defend itself against security threats," while also referring to "Syria's sovereignty and stability."
The American call for "restraint and dialogue" comes after several days of strikes, mutual accusations, and a public dispute between Jerusalem and Barrack. Washington is continuing its discussions with Israel, Syria, and Turkey in an effort to prevent further escalation, preserve the channel of dialogue between Jerusalem and Damascus, and prevent Israeli Turkish tensions in Syria from developing into a broader confrontation.