India, Aug. 23 -- Israel and Turkey are trying to prevent their growing dispute over Syria from turning into a confrontation, even as senior leaders trade increasingly sharp warnings.

Israel has reportedly opened secret communication channels with Ankara after striking Syria's Abu al-Duhur airbase, while PM Benjamin Netanyahu has launched a fresh verbal attack on Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

The conflict centres on Turkey's expanding military role in Syria and Israel's opposition to any Turkish deployment that could alter the security balance near its borders. Israel says it acted on intelligence about Turkish plans at the Syrian airbase, while Turkey and Syria have rejected that claim.

Turkey-Israel Latest News: Secret Talk...