The two sides have started talks to prevent conflicts between their troops in Syria, amid a growing rivalry for influence in the region.

A Turkish official says Turkey and Israel have held technical talks aimed at preventing conflict between their troops in Syria.

Syria was in danger of becoming a Turkish protectorate, explained Gideon Sa’ar, Israel’s foreign minister. Syria’s leaders would pay a heavy price if they allowed forces hostile to Israel to enter Syria and endanger the Jewish state’s security interests, said Israel Katz, its defence minister.