Israeli Airstrike on Syrian Base Increases Tensions in Region

Israel conducted airstrikes on an air base in northwest Syria on Tuesday. The action was aimed at preventing Turkish forces from deploying at the site. Relations between Turkey and Israel are tense due to their conflicting interests in Syria.

The airstrikes targeted the Abu Duhur air base in Idlib province, with eight hits damaging the runway but causing no casualties according to state TV. Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani condemned the attack, labeling it an ‘unjustified provocation’ and a threat to both regional and global stability.

The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that the strikes were necessary to avert a breach of security agreements by Syria, involving the potential stationing of Turkish troops. Israel had previously warned against this deployment.

Turkey’s Foreign Ministry condemned the airstrikes and urged the international community to address Israel’s actions, which it claimed ignored international law. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that the base was under rehabilitation by Turkey and had housed foreign fighters before their recent departure.

Tom Barrack, U.S. ambassador to Turkey and special envoy to Syria, expressed concerns over the escalation, remarking that it did not contribute to regional stability. He emphasized the U.S.’s role in promoting diplomacy between the conflicting parties.

Several countries, including Qatar, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia, issued statements opposing the airstrike. Following the fall of Bashar Assad’s government in December 2024, tensions have heightened between Israel and Turkey, particularly over Syrian matters. Israel has launched airstrikes throughout Syria, targeting military assets to prevent them from falling into the hands of Assad’s successors. Israel also controls a buffer zone in southern Syria, occupied since Assad’s downfall.

Attempts to reach a security agreement between Israel and Syria, mediated by the U.S., have yet to yield results. The Israeli military previously conducted a drone strike in Damascus, causing fatalities among Syrian soldiers. The current Syrian government, led by former insurgents, claims it seeks peace with Israel, yet suspicion persists.