US Official Publicly Blames Israel for Nighttime Airstrike on Syrian Military Airport

On the night between August 18 and 19, Israeli warplanes struck the runway at the Abu al-Duhur military airbase in Syria's Idlib province, located about 70 kilometers from Turkey. The airbase is considered a strategic site connecting various regions within Syria. While Syrian sources attributed the attack to Israel, Israeli officials have maintained silence and denied involvement.

Tom Barrett, the US Special Envoy for Syria, publicly accused Israel of carrying out the airstrike. He described the attack as an unnecessary escalation that undermines regional stability. Barrett emphasized that the Syrian government under Bashar al-Assad has not adopted an aggressive stance or deployed proxy forces, instead repeatedly expressing a preference for de-escalation with Israel. He called for restraint and dialogue as more constructive approaches.

The Syrian Foreign Ministry condemned the strike as an unjustified aggression and a blatant violation of Syria's sovereignty and territorial integrity. It labeled the attack a dangerous escalation threatening security and stability in the region and accused Israel of attempting to destabilize the area.

This incident occurs amid complex developments in Syria, including efforts by the Syrian army to rebuild and the establishment of new fighting forces by the Assad regime. Meanwhile, Israeli Defense Forces continue to operate near the Syrian border, and regional actors like Turkey seek active roles in Syria's reconstruction. The Abu al-Duhur airbase remains a significant strategic asset for the involved parties.