Israel Claims Responsibility for Syria Airstrike to Halt Turkish Military Build-Up

Israel officially took responsibility on Tuesday evening for an airstrike carried out overnight in Syria, targeting a military airbase near Aleppo. The Israeli government stated the strike aimed to prevent the deployment of Turkish forces at the base, which Israel views as a direct threat to its security. According to a statement from the Prime Minister's Office, Israel and Syria had agreed on a security status quo, but Syria violated it by allowing Turkish military presence near Aleppo. Israel warned Syria multiple times about the risks, but these 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 attack targeted Abu al-Duhur military airport in Idlib province, about 70 kilometers from the Turkish border. Reports indicated that four aircraft struck runways and storage facilities, with no casualties reported. Sources suggested the strike followed a visit by a Turkish military delegation involved in runway repairs. Concurrently, U.S. envoy to Syria and Turkey, Tom Barrett, criticized Israel for not warning Turkey beforehand, warning that Ankara could have prepared a counterattack against Israeli jets. Barrett also cautioned that such strikes might increase Turkish military presence in the area and stressed the need for a strong mechanism to reduce tensions among Israel, Syria, and Turkey.

An Israeli official told Fox News that senior U.S. officials were informed about the strike but chose not to notify Turkey. Barrett's comments came amid ongoing Israeli-Syrian negotiations and Turkey's attempts to expand influence in northern Syria. Israel fears the deployment of Turkish weapons systems, including drones and air defense, in Syria. A senior Israeli source told Channel 12 that Israel will not easily relinquish its territorial gains, which serve as strategic leverage in talks with the Syrian regime. The source added that any withdrawal would be exchanged for diplomatic achievements at an appropriate time.