US envoy to Turkey

Following the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, tensions in the Middle East have escalated, with Iran threatening retaliation against Israel, which it blames for the killing. U.S. Ambassador to Turkey, Jeff Flake, stated that the U.S. is urging Turkey and other allies with ties to Iran to help de-escalate the situation. Flake noted that Turkey appears more confident than the U.S. that tensions won't escalate into war, despite the fraught backdrop of U.S.-Turkey relations over issues like Turkey's acquisition of Russian S-400 defenses and U.S. support for Syrian Kurdish forces. He acknowledged Turkey's significant logistical role in a recent U.S.-Russia prisoner exchange and expressed optimism about improving relations between the two countries. However, he emphasized ongoing concerns about military-linked exports to Russia from Turkey. The situation remains precarious as the U.S. maintains a military presence in the Mediterranean to respond to potential threats.