Syria Chooses Restraint After Israeli Strike on Abu al-Duhur Military Airport

Following an Israeli attack on the Abu al-Duhur military airport, the Syrian government in Damascus has decided against a military response at this stage. A source close to the Assad regime told N12 that the Syrian leadership prefers to avoid escalation to protect the stability of the new government. The source emphasized that the government is focused on preventing any developments that could disrupt its course.

Instead of retaliating militarily, Syria aims to pursue a diplomatic arrangement with Israel. Damascus recognizes that another confrontation could lead to prolonged escalation, harming national interests. The source stated, "Any military response would mean long-term escalation," and thus the Syrian government views restraint and waiting for security understandings as the best solution.

Additionally, Syria is cautious not to fully adopt Turkey's stance and seeks to maintain coordination among various actors to avoid being portrayed as responsible for escalation. Strategically, Damascus prefers Israel to be the party explaining its strikes to Washington and Ankara rather than Syria being blamed for the tensions.

Meanwhile, the Syrian regime keeps the door open for a possible settlement, fearing that military retaliation could derail efforts to achieve gains without sliding into war. Amid rising tensions, the Israeli Chief of Staff visited IDF troops stationed in Syria today.