How US envoy Tom Barrack nearly ignited an Israel-Turkey war

U.S. Ambassador to Turkey Tom Barrack is reportedly facing calls for his recall due to his handling of tensions between Israel and Turkey, with conservative activist Laura Loomer claiming he "almost started a regional war between Israel, Turkey and Syria." This comes amid a sharp escalation between Israel and Turkey over Ankara's attempt to expand its military presence in Syria, particularly near the Abu al-Duhur Air Base. An Israeli official stated that Turkey "understood the message" after Israel struck the base to prevent a significant military buildup that could restrict Israeli Air Force operations. The official also criticized Barrack for legitimizing Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa and "causing us significant damage." Israel is balancing checking Turkish expansion with avoiding a direct confrontation, given Turkey's NATO membership and importance to Israeli energy security.