Unidentified Airstrikes Target Runways at Abu al-Duhur Military Airport in Syria

Last night, four missile airstrikes were carried out by unidentified aircraft targeting the runways at Abu al-Duhur military airport in eastern Idlib, Syria, approximately 300 kilometers from Israel and 60 kilometers from the Syria-Turkey border. The strikes were reported by Qatari channel Al Jazeera, Saudi Al Arabiya, and Lebanese Al Mayadeen, but no further details were provided regarding additional damage on the ground beyond the runways. The airport is controlled by forces loyal to Syrian leader Ahmad al-Shara since the fall of Assad.

Unofficial Syrian sources and Al Mayadeen suggested the strikes were Israeli, though neither Israel nor Syria has officially confirmed this. Due to the airport's proximity to Turkey, speculation arose that the attack might be linked to Turkey's efforts to arm and support the Syrian army, but this remains unverified. It is also unclear whether the strikes aimed to damage a specific ground target such as a shipment or solely to disable the runways to prevent landings.

This incident is notable given the current political context. Israel has not conducted airstrikes in Syria since March 2026, when it acted to protect the Druze community in As-Suwayda, and has not struck deep inside Syrian territory since July 2025, targeting the defense headquarters in Damascus to prevent a Druze massacre. Unlike during Assad's regime, when Israel frequently struck inside Syria, the situation under Ahmad al-Shara, who is accepted by the West and close to the US, is markedly different, with Israel refraining from attacks on smuggling or military buildup attempts as before.