Israeli jets strike Syrian airbase, drawing Turkish ire and US concern

Israel carried out a series of airstrikes on a Syrian airbase on Tuesday, marking its first known attack on Syrian government assets since March. Syrian state media, citing a military source, reported eight strikes targeting the runway and storage facilities at the Abu al-Duhur base, located roughly 70 kilometers from the Turkish border. A separate military source and a civilian living nearby said there were no casualties. The Israeli military declined to comment, and Syria's defence ministry did not respond.

The attack drew sharp criticism from the United States. Ambassador Tom Barrack, the US special presidential envoy for Syria and Iraq, called the strikes an "unnecessary escalation" that does not advance regional stability. He urged all parties to prioritize "logical discourse" over further military incidents.

Syrian Foreign Minister Assad al-Shibani condemned the attacks, asserting they lack security justifications. Speaking alongside IAEA chief Rafael Grossi in Damascus, he said Syria would continue its diplomatic efforts to dissuade Israel from its policy of strikes.

The base has been out of service as a dedicated military airfield since 2013, having changed hands multiple times during Syria's 14-year civil war. Israel has repeatedly struck Syrian forces since the ouster of former President Bashar al-Assad in 2024, focusing largely on government sites in southern and central Syria.

Israel views Syria's new rulers with deep suspicion due to their Islamist militant roots and has said it will not tolerate an Islamist presence near its border. After Assad's fall, Israel seized territory in southwest Syria and struck much of the Syrian army's heavy weaponry. It has also launched attacks citing the protection of Syria's Druze minority.

The strikes come amid heightened security tensions between Israel and Turkey, which has become a main ally of Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa. Ankara accused Israel of trying to destabilise Syria and called on the international community to take a more decisive stance against what it termed Israel's "escalating aggression." The Turkish Foreign Ministry said the strikes violated Syria's territorial unity and integrity.

Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz has previously issued direct warnings to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, saying Israel would not allow steps that strengthen Syria's military capabilities in ways that could pose a threat. Turkey and Israel established a line of communication last year to avoid incidents in Syria, where both militaries are active.

Syria conducted its first air exercises since Assad's ousting in early August, using Russian-made MiG-21 fighter jets. Israeli broadcaster Kan reported on August 11 that security officials had detected signs of Syria accelerating efforts to rebuild its air force, including pilot recruitment and flight training, and that Israel had shared its concerns with the United States.