Israel Claims Responsibility for Airstrike on Syrian Military Airport Over Turkish Troop Deployment

Israel officially took responsibility for the airstrike on the Abu al-Duhur military airport in Syria, which occurred overnight in the eastern Idlib countryside. The Israeli Prime Minister's Office confirmed the attack, stating it was carried out to prevent the deployment of Turkish forces at the airbase near Aleppo, which Israel views as a violation of the agreed security status quo with Syria. Israel warned Syria repeatedly that allowing Turkish troops to station there would threaten Israeli security, but those warnings were ignored. The statement emphasized that Israel will not tolerate threats to its security and welcomed a return to the previous status quo.

The strike targeted the runway at the Abu al-Duhur airfield, according to the Syrian news agency SANA. Syrian officials had attributed the attack to Israel earlier in the day, marking a rare Israeli military operation deep inside Syrian territory after a period of relative quiet. The U.S. special envoy for Syria, Tom Barrett, condemned the strike and expressed serious concern.

An Israeli official confirmed to Fox News that Israel conducted the operation and shared sensitive intelligence with Washington prior to the strike. The intelligence was communicated at the highest levels between agencies in both countries. The official also commented on Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, suggesting he may not fully grasp the situation or the consequences of his actions.