US Condemns Israeli Airstrikes on Syrian Airbase

The United States has issued a rare rebuke of Israel after reports emerged that it struck a Syrian military airbase near the Turkish border, labelling the attack an “unnecessary escalation”.

On Tuesday, eight airstrikes hit the runway and storage facility of the Abu Duhur airport, according to Syrian state television. Thankfully, there were no reports of injuries from the attack.

Israel, while refraining from directly commenting on the strikes, indicated that Syria was “on the verge of breaching” the security status quo, suggesting that Damascus was allowing Turkish troops to deploy to the airbase.

In response, Syria and Turkey condemned the Israeli military action, stating that it threatens to escalate tensions in the region further.

Tom Barrack, the US ambassador to Turkey, who was also appointed as Donald Trump’s special envoy for Syria and Iraq, voiced his concerns in a statement posted on social media. “We are deeply concerned that the confirmed Israeli airstrikes on Abu al-Duhur Airbase constitute an unnecessary escalation that does not advance regional stability,” Barrack wrote on X.

The Israeli prime minister’s office issued a statement asserting, “Israel and Syria agreed to a status quo in security matters, which Syria was on the verge of breaching by permitting Turkish troops to deploy at an airbase near Aleppo.”

Syria’s foreign ministry denounced the attacks as “an unjustified act of aggression” that threatens regional “security and stability”.

Meanwhile, Turkey did not confirm whether its troops had moved to the Abu Duhur airbase, located 70km from its border. Ankara, however, refuted Israel’s allegations, asserting that they aimed to justify Israel’s unlawful airstrikes against Syria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The Abu Duhur airbase has not been operational as a dedicated military airfield since 2013, after rebel forces seized control during a major offensive. Syria has been attempting to rebuild its military infrastructure, which was damaged during a previous blitz offensive that sought to topple Bashar al-Assad’s government.

The Turkish military has offered assistance to Syria amid the ongoing conflict, while Israel continues to view both countries with significant suspicion.

Israel has been conducting airstrikes across central and southern Syria since Al-Sharaa came to power, with these latest strikes being the most notable since March. Barrack noted that Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, who led the rebel forces against Assad, “has neither adopted nor maintained proxy forces” and has expressed a preference for de-escalation with Israel.

The United States has reiterated its willingness to facilitate diplomatic discussions between both sides to navigate these escalating tensions. Al-Sharaa has strengthened ties with the West since assuming power, a development highlighted by his historic visit to the White House in November last year.