Early Tuesday, Israel conducted an airstrike on an air base in northwest Syria, aiming to stop Turkish troops from establishing a presence there. Turkey, which has a strong relationship with the Syrian government, has been supporting Syria’s military. However, its ties with Israel remain strained. Both countries seek to limit each other’s influence in Syria.
The airstrike targeted the Abu Duhur air base in Idlib province. Eight strikes damaged the runway but resulted in no casualties, according to Syrian state TV. Syria’s Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani condemned the attack, labeling it “Israeli aggression” and calling it an “unjustified provocation” that threatens regional and global stability.
Israel justified the attack by alleging that Syria was about to breach an agreed security “status quo” by allowing Turkish troops to deploy at the base. Israel warned Syria earlier about the potential security threat, but these warnings were ignored, according to a statement from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office.
The Foreign Ministry of Turkey criticized the strike, urging the international community to oppose Israel’s actions and hold it accountable. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that the base, rehabilitated by Turkey, was abandoned by foreign fighters recently.
Tom Barrack, U.S. ambassador to Turkey and special envoy to Syria, expressed concern over the airstrikes, seeing them as “an unnecessary escalation”. Barrack highlighted Syria’s Interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa’s interest in reducing tensions with Israel. The U.S. continues to facilitate discussions to promote diplomacy, aiming for a peaceful resolution.
Countries such as Qatar, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia also condemned Israel’s actions. Since the fall of Bashar Assad’s government in December 2024, following the insurgents’ capture of Damascus, tensions between Israel and Turkey over Syria have increased. Post-Assad, Israel has launched numerous airstrikes across Syria, targeting Syrian army assets.
The Israeli military has taken control of a U.N.-patrolled buffer zone in southern Syria, maintaining its hold there. Last year, Israeli drone strikes in a Damascus suburb resulted in casualties among Syrian soldiers. Although Damascus’s new authorities express a desire to avoid conflict with Israel, suspicion persists between the two sides.
U.S.-led talks aiming for a security agreement between Israel and Syria have been ongoing for over a year, but progress remains limited.
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