'Let's hope they'll decide to be helpful': Huckabee tells 'Post' about Turkey's role – interview

US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee expressed hope that Turkey would become a stabilizing force in the Middle East, stating, "Let's hope that they will decide to be helpful." This comes amid rising tensions, including an Israeli airstrike on Syria's Abu al-Duhur airbase on August 18, shortly after Turkish troops were deployed there. Huckabee described the airstrike, which only hit the runway, as a warning, akin to a baseball pitcher brushing back a batter, signaling, "back away from the plate."

• Turkey's criticism of Israel has intensified, with officials like Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan calling Israel "a problem for all of humanity."
• The US is concerned about financing flowing through Turkey to Hamas in Gaza, which Huckabee called "a serious issue that we monitor and care deeply about."
• US President Donald Trump is attempting to mediate between Israel and Turkey, leveraging his relationships with both Prime Minister Netanyahu and President Erdogan.
• The US administration, led by Ambassador to Turkey Tom Barrack, is working to establish a mechanism for dialogue between Israel, Turkey, and Syria to de-escalate tensions, following a meeting between Mossad Director Roman Gofman and Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani.