US Rebukes Israel After Airstrikes on Syrian Airbase Near Turkish Border
U.S. officials denounced Israeli airstrikes on the Abu Duhur military airbase on Tuesday, describing the attack as an unnecessary escalation that threatens regional stability.
According to Syrian state television, eight airstrikes hit the runway and storage facilities at the base. No casualties were reported, but the strike struck a key logistics site within the “friendly airspace” close to the Turkish border.
Israel did not directly confirm the strikes but warned that Syria had been on the verge of breaching the status quo by allowing Turkish troops to deploy to the base. The Israeli statement cited U.S. and Turkish interests and framed the sectors as vulnerable points in the conflict.
The U.S. ambassador to Turkey, Tom Barrack—also appointed as special envoy for Syria and Iraq—released a statement on X that the airstrikes “constitute an unnecessary escalation that does not advance regional stability.” He offered the United States’ support to host diplomatic talks between the parties to address the tensions.
Syria’s foreign ministry called the attacks an unjustified act of aggression that imperils security and stability. Turkey denied any deployment of troops to the base and rejected Israeli accusations, stating that the claims were designed to justify unlawful attacks on Syrian sovereignty.
The Abu Duhur airbase, once an active military facility until 2013, fell under rebel control in December 2024 as anti‑Assad forces swept through the region. Syria has been working to rebuild its infrastructure after severe damage during the early months of the civil war.
Israel has conducted airstrikes across central and southern Syria since the change of regime, with the recent attacks representing the most significant strikes since March. President Ahmad al‑Sharaa, who led the opposition to Assad, has not used proxy forces and repeatedly signaled a desire for de‑escalation with Israel, according to U.S. officials.
The United States reiterated its willingness to facilitate discussions among Israel, Syria, and Turkey to prevent further kinetic incidents. Meanwhile, the foreign ministries of the involved nations have called for immediate de-escalation and deeper diplomatic engagement to avoid a broader conflict in the already volatile Middle East region.
