Israeli jets strike Syrian air base after Turkish delegation visit
Israel struck Syria's Abu Duhur air base hours after a Turkish delegation left, citing security concerns; Damascus and Ankara condemn the raid.
Israeli warplanes struck the Abu Duhur air base in northern Syria early Tuesday, just hours after a Turkish military delegation had visited the facility, according to Syrian officials. The attack caused material damage but no casualties, the officials said, speaking on condition of anonymity as they were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly.
The delegation had arrived at the base, located in the northwestern province of Idlib, on Monday to review ongoing rehabilitation work at the site. This marked the first confirmed instance of a Turkish presence at Abu Duhur, a strategically positioned facility near the borders of Idlib, Aleppo, and Hama provinces.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said the strike was carried out because Syria was "on the verge of breaching" an agreed-upon "status quo in security matters" by permitting Turkish troops to deploy at the base.
Turkey's communications directorate dismissed Netanyahu's statement as "untenable allegations" aimed at justifying what it called Israel's unlawful attacks on Syrian sovereignty. It accused Israel of pursuing expansionist policies ahead of its elections and reiterated Ankara's commitment to cooperate with the Syrian government for regional stability.
Neither Turkish nor Syrian authorities have publicly confirmed the delegation's visit, though both condemned the strike, as did the U.S. ambassador to Turkey, who also serves as special envoy to Syria, and several Arab nations.
Turkey has been assisting Syria in rebuilding its armed forces through training programs, equipment supply, and logistical support, following a formal military cooperation agreement signed last year. Syrian troops have also participated in exercises in Turkey.
Israel has remained wary of Syria's new leadership under interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa, who has stated he does not seek conflict with Israel. Since the fall of former President Bashar Assad in December 2024, Israel has conducted hundreds of airstrikes across Syria, targeting former army assets, and continues to occupy a buffer zone in the south.
The incident adds further strain to already tense Turkish-Israeli relations, which have deteriorated under President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's rule. Analysts have expressed concern that the two rivals could drift toward a proxy confrontation in Syria as they compete for influence in the country.