Israel said to warn Turkey: Don’t attack Assad

Syria is likely to retaliate with long-range missiles and chemical weapons, PM’s special envoy reportedly tells Ankara

By ToI Staff 28 March 2014, 6:36 pm 8 Edit

Syrian President Bashar Assad (photo credit: AP/CBS)

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s special envoy to Ankara has warned Turkish officials against attacking Syria, according to a report in a Turkish newspaper Friday.

David Meidan recently told the head of Turkish intelligence, Hakan Fidan, that embattled Syrian President Bashar Assad could respond to a Turkish strike by firing long-range missiles and chemical weapons at Turkey, reported Taraf.

Earlier this week, the Turkish military shot down a Syrian fighter jet that it claimed had entered Turkey’s airspace.

A report on Thursday indicated that Meidan and Fidan had reached a deal on rapprochement after four years of strained relations, and that Israel and Turkey would soon reopen their respective diplomatic missions in each other’s countries.

David Meidan with President Shimon Peres (photo credit: Miriam Alster/Flash90)

According to that report in Today’s Zaman, Meidan and Fidan also discussed a visit by Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan to Israel in the coming months.

However, a senior Israeli official denied the report.

“These reports are incorrect. We are not aware of anything new,” the official said.