In brief
The United States decried Israeli airstrikes on the Abu Duhur airbase in Syria, calling the attack an unnecessary escalation that could harm regional stability. While Israel blamed Syria for breaching the status quo, the U.S. offered to mediate further. Syrian and Turkish officials called the strikes a breach of sovereignty as the base had been under rebel control since December 2024. The U.S. ambassador to Turkey condemned the attacks and pledged to host diplomatic talks.
The United States has issued a rare warning to Israel after reports emerged that the Israeli Defense Forces struck the Abu Duhur airbase in Syria, calling the operation an "unnecessary escalation" that could destabilise the region.
According to Syrian state television, eight airstrikes hit the airport’s runway and storage facilities on Tuesday, but no injuries were reported.
Israel’s government, while refusing to comment on the specific strikes, accused Syria of “breaching” the status quo, citing the presence of Turkish troops allegedly positioned at the airbase.
U.S. Ambassador to Turkey Tom Barrack, who also serves as the former U.S. special envoy for Syria and Iraq, posted a statement on X expressing deep concern: "We are deeply concerned that the confirmed Israeli airstrikes on Abu al-Duhur Airbase constitute an unnecessary escalation that does not advance regional stability."
Syria’s foreign ministry condemned the attacks as an unjustified act of aggression that threatens regional security, while Turkey’s Communications Directorate denied any troop deployment and accused Israel of legitimising unlawful strikes on Syria’s sovereignty.
The Abu Duhur base has been out of service as a dedicated military airfield since 2013. Rebel forces seized it in December 2024, and Syria has been working to rebuild its military facilities damaged during the southern offensive that ousted the Assad regime.
Barrack urged that the U.S. remain available to host diplomatic discussions aimed at easing kinetic frustrations between the parties involved. He noted that the new Syrian leader, President Ahmad al‑Sharaa, has expressed a preference for de‑escalation with Israel and forged closer ties with the West, most recently visiting the White House in November last year.
