In brief
The US officially reprimanded Israel after reports of eight airstrikes hitting Syria’s Abu Duhur airbase near the Turkish border. The attack, which left no casualties, was condemned by US Ambassador Tom Barrack on X, citing it as an unnecessary escalation that does not further regional stability. Israel’s statement blamed Syrian forces for allowing Turkish troops to occupy the base, while Syria and Turkey accused Israel of an unjustified act of aggression. The airbase had been seized by anti‑Assad forces in December 2024 and is now in the hands of rebel groups. The incident adds to a backdrop of ongoing tensions and repeated Israeli airstrikes in Syria since the 2024 offensive, prompting the US to offer diplomatic discussions to mitigate kinetic frustrations.
The United States issued a rare rebuke of Israel after reports that it struck the Abu Duhur military airbase in Syria with eight airstrikes on Tuesday. The strike took place near the Turkish border and left no casualties, a fact confirmed by Syrian state television.
US Ambassador Tom Barrack, also Trump’s former special envoy for Syria and Iraq, posted on X that the confirmed Israeli airstrikes constitute an “unnecessary escalation” that does not advance regional stability. He expressed deep concern about the motive behind the strikes.
The Israeli prime minister’s office stated that Israel and Syria had agreed on a security status quo, and that Syria was “on the verge of breaching” it by permitting Turkish troops to deploy at the base. Israel therefore said it was acting in response to a perceived threat.
Syria’s foreign ministry called the attacks an “unjustified act of aggression” that imperils regional security and stability. Turkey, which controls a base only 70 km from the border, also denied that its troops were involved and rejected Israel’s claims.
Abu Duhur was captured by anti‑Assad forces in December 2024 when rebel groups swept across the country. Since then, Syria has been rebuilding military facilities damaged during the 2024 offensive, which saw the Bashar al‑Assad government toppled within weeks.
Israel has carried out airstrikes on southern and central Syria regularly since the war began, with the latest being the largest since March. Despite that, US Ambassador Barrack noted that President Ahmed al‑Sharaa has repeatedly expressed a preference for de‑escalation with Israel.
The US has offered to host diplomatic discussions between the two sides to address “kinetic frustrations,” a move that reflects a broader effort to curb the cycle of violence in the region.
