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 approximately 70 kilometers from Turkey. The airbase is considered a strategic site connecting various regions within Syria. While Syrian reports attributed the attack to Israel, Israeli officials have neither confirmed nor denied involvement, maintaining silence on the matter.

Tom Barrett, the US Special Envoy for Syria, publicly accused Israel of carrying out the strike. He described the airstrikes as an unnecessary escalation that undermines regional stability. Barrett emphasized that the Assad government has not adopted an aggressive stance nor deployed proxy forces, and has repeatedly expressed a preference for de-escalation with Israel. He urged restraint and dialogue as the preferable path forward.

The Syrian Foreign Ministry condemned the attack, labeling it an unjustified aggression and a blatant violation of Syria's sovereignty and territorial integrity. The ministry warned that such actions dangerously escalate tensions and threaten security and stability in the region, accusing 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 Assad regime's attempts to establish new combat forces. Meanwhile, Israeli Defense Forces remain stationed near the border, and regional actors like Turkey seek active roles in Syria's reconstruction. The Abu al-Duhur airbase's strategic importance underscores the potential impact of the strike on ongoing regional dynamics.