Aerial footage shows the damage inflicted on the runway and storage yard of Syria’s Abu Duhur military airbase after eight Israeli airstrikes, an event that drew a sharp rebuke from the United States.
The U.S. labelled the strike an unnecessary escalation that does not contribute to regional stability, a statement issued by its ambassador in Turkey, Tom Barrack, on X. Barrack emphasised the need for diplomatic talks to resolve the tensions that have flared with the presence of Turkish troops near the base.
Israel, while not commenting directly on the strikes, warned that Syria was close to breaching a security status quo after allowing Turkish forces to deploy to a location adjacent to Aleppo. The Israeli Prime Minister’s office noted that the agreement between Israel and Syria was being threatened.
Syria’s foreign ministry condemned the airstrikes as an unjustified act of aggression, while Turkey denied any troop movement to the airbase, rejecting Israel’s implications that it posed a threat.
Abu Duhur has been out of service since 2013, seized by rebel forces during a sweeping offensive in December 2024. Syria has been rebuilding its military facilities after the rapid overthrow of Bashar al‑Assad’s government, with the U.S. continuing to facilitate dialogue between the parties involved.
The U.S. remains ready to host discussions that could reduce kinetic frustrations and foster a path toward de‑escalation, hinting that the region’s future will depend on multilateral engagement rather than unilateral strikes.
