Syria and the US accused Israel of striking the abandoned Abu Duhur air base in Idlib after a Turkish delegation reportedly inspected the site. Syrian state media said eight strikes damaged the runway but caused no casualties. The US envoy called the confirmed strikes "an unnecessary escalation." The incident adds to broader tensions as Israel continues operations in Syria and relations with Turkey have soured.
Syria and US Accuse Israel of Striking Abandoned Abu Duhur Air Base in Idlib
A member of Syrian government forces stands guard at the Abu Duhur military air base area in Idlib province in 2018 (George OURFALIAN)
Syria and the United States accused Israel on Tuesday of striking the disused Abu Duhur military air base in northwestern Syria, with a monitoring group saying the raids followed a Turkish delegation's inspection of the site.
What Happened
Israel has not publicly claimed the operation. Tom Barrack, the US special envoy for Syria, wrote on X that the "confirmed Israeli airstrikes" on the Abu Duhur air base in Idlib province were "an unnecessary escalation that does not advance regional stability."
Syrian state media, citing a military source, reported that "Israeli occupation aircraft early this morning targeted the runway" at Abu Duhur with "eight strikes," damaging infrastructure but causing no casualties. The facility has been out of service since 2012 and, according to a security source, is currently guarded by Syrian defence ministry forces.
Context And Reactions
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the strikes followed "a visit by a Turkish military delegation to the airfield in recent days as part of efforts to reactivate it." Turkey is described as a key ally of Syria's new authorities, and that visit may have contributed to heightened concern about the site.
Syria's foreign ministry condemned the strikes "in the strongest terms," calling them "an unjustified act of aggression" and urging the international community and the UN Security Council to take a firm stand against what Damascus describes as repeated violations of Syrian sovereignty. The ministry said the attacks have continued since December 2024 despite Damascus' efforts to exercise restraint and consolidate stability.
Israel has carried out hundreds of strikes inside Syria since the December 2024 overthrow of long-time leader Bashar al-Assad by Islamist forces Israel considers jihadist. Israeli forces have also entered a UN-monitored buffer zone in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights and carry out regular incursions deeper into Syrian territory. Israeli officials say they plan to maintain forces in a "security zone" in southern Syria aimed at creating a broader demilitarised area.
Despite mounting tensions, Israeli and Syria's new authorities have held direct talks and agreed on an intelligence-sharing mechanism. Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani last month condemned continuing Israeli military actions and demanded an "immediate and unconditional withdrawal" from territory beyond the 1974 line. Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz has said Israel intends to keep troops in Syria.
During a recent visit to Damascus, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said violations of Syria's sovereignty and territorial integrity were unacceptable and must cease, adding that "the Golan Heights are Syrian territory." Israel captured most of the Golan in the 1967 Arab-Israeli War and later annexed the areas under its control — a move not recognised by most of the international community.
US Response: Barrack urged restraint and called on all parties to prioritise dialogue over further military incidents.
Current Status: No casualties were reported. The airfield is out of service but reportedly guarded by Syrian defence forces. Israel has not acknowledged the strikes.
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