In brief
A rare U.S. rebuke of Israel follows reports that eight Israeli aircraft hit the Abu Duhur airbase’s runway and storage facilities, with no injuries reported. Israel said Syria was on the verge of breaching the security status quo by allowing Turkish troops to move to the base. Syria and Turkey denounced the attacks, saying they could heighten regional instability, while the U.S. ambassador in Turkey warned that the strikes did not advance regional stability. The incident underscores growing friction between Israel and Syria and the complex interplay of Turkish interests in the area.
Abu Duhur airport after being struck; the airbase was seized by anti‑Assad forces in December 2024.
On Tuesday, Israeli jets reportedly launched eight airstrikes against the Abu Duhur airbase, striking its runway and storage facilities, according to Syrian state television. No casualties were reported.
Israel denied direct involvement but stated that Syria was about to breach the “status quo” in security matters by allowing Turkish troops to deploy to a site near Aleppo. The prime‑minister’s office said Israel and Syria had agreed to a security status quo, and the alleged breach would threaten regional stability.
Syria’s foreign ministry called the strikes an “unjustified act of aggression” that imperils regional security. Turkey’s communications directorate dismissed Israel’s allegations, calling them frivolous and insisting that the airbase remains a potential target for Turkish forces.
U.S. Ambassador‑to‑Turkey Tom Barrack posted a critique on X, arguing that the confirmed Israeli strikes constituted an unnecessary escalation that did not further regional stability. He pledged that Washington would continue to host diplomatic talks between Antio‑Syria and Israel to address kinetic frustrations.
Syrian President Ahmad al‑Sharaa, leader of the rebels who toppled Bashar al‑Assad, has repeatedly indicated a preference for de‑escalation with Israel, although he has maintained proxy forces. Al‑Sharaa has strengthened ties with the West, notably visiting the White House in November 2025.
