PM’s office says talks with Turkey on Syria aimed at preserving ‘security stability’

After anonymous Israeli and Turkish officials confirmed direct talks between the two countries over Syria, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office offers details about the ongoing discussions.

Last night, says the Prime Minister’s Office in a statement, an Israeli delegation led by National Security Adviser Tzachi Hanegbi met in Azerbaijan with their Turkish counterparts.

The Israeli delegation included senior Defense Ministry and security agency officials.

Netanyahu’s office thanks Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev — who publicly hinted yesterday at his role as mediator — for hosting the talks.

“In the talks, each side presented its interests in the region, and they agreed to continue the channel of communication in order to preserve security stability,” says the PMO.

Turkey has been trying to establish an expanded military presence in Syria since the fall of Bashar al-Assad. Israel has been carrying out military strikes against the new regime and on bases it believes Turkey wants to control.