Israel’s attack on Syria’s Abu al-Duhur airbase could have triggered a direct military confrontation with Turkey, US Ambassador to Turkey and Syria envoy Tom Barrack has warned.

In an interview with The Jerusalem Post, Barrack said Tuesday’s strike carried a “real risk of rapid escalation into a direct military confrontation” with both Syria and Turkey.

He said Turkish forces received no warning that Israeli warplanes were approaching the base and did not know their mission.

They “could potentially have been inclined to scramble their own jets in the belief that they themselves were under attack”, Barrack said.

“The events of yesterday were serious and worrisome. However, we are relieved that no human life was harmed and that the situation did not escalate,” he added.