Israel Acknowledges Airstrike on Syrian Military Airport Amid Turkish Troop Deployment Concerns

Israel has officially taken responsibility for a rare airstrike on the Abu al-Duhur military airport in northwest Syria, near the Turkish border. The attack, confirmed late Tuesday by the Israeli Prime Minister's Office, targeted runways and hangars at the base approximately 70 kilometers from Turkey. Israel stated the strike followed repeated warnings to Syria against allowing Turkish forces to deploy at the airbase, which Israel views as a breach of existing understandings aimed at maintaining regional security.

The Prime Minister's Office emphasized that Israel and Syria had agreed to preserve the status quo on security matters, but Syria's decision to permit Turkish military presence was seen as a direct threat to Israel's security. Israel warned Syria multiple times that such deployment would be unacceptable, but those warnings were ignored. The strike was intended to send a clear message to both Ankara and Damascus that Israel will not tolerate any new military threats near its borders.

This incident comes shortly after a Turkish delegation visited the base as part of efforts to rehabilitate it. Israeli officials fear that expanding Turkish presence could eventually include air defense systems, drones, and other military assets, potentially restricting Israel's freedom of action. The strike also occurred amid ongoing indirect negotiations between Israel and Syria, with Israeli officials viewing their current military achievements as strategic leverage for future diplomatic talks.

The attack drew condemnation from Syria, Turkey, and cautious responses from the United States, where it remains unclear if Washington was informed beforehand. The U.S. special envoy for Syria, Tom Barrett, noted the strike reflects Israeli concerns about Turkey's growing military footprint in Syria and highlighted the need for a mechanism to prevent clashes among Israel, Syria, and Turkey, a process the U.S. is actively promoting.