Israel Attacked Syria for the First Time Since March, Accusing Turkey of Attempting to Deploy Troops to an Airbase in Idlib
"Israel will not tolerate threats to its security and would welcome a return to the status quo," Netanyahu's office said.
On Tuesday, Israel launched airstrikes on an airbase in the Syrian province of Idlib, Syrian media reported. The Israeli government effectively confirmed the attack, which drew sharp condemnation from both Turkey and the American envoy to the region, who called it "unnecessary escalation," writes the BBC.
As reported on Tuesday by Syrian state television Ekhbariya, citing a military source, Israel carried out eight airstrikes on the runway and storage facilities at the Abu al-Duhur airbase in the southeastern Idlib province. According to Reuters, another military source and a local resident stated that there were no casualties.
This is Israel's first strike on Syrian government facilities since March. Turkey's Foreign Ministry condemned the attack. "We call on the international community to take a more resolute stance to stop the escalation of Israel's aggression against Syria," its statement said.
The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu effectively confirmed the attack by publishing a message in English on the social network X late Tuesday evening.
"Israel and Syria had agreed on a security status quo, which was threatened by Syria's permission for Turkish troops to be deployed to an airbase near Aleppo," the statement read. "Israel had repeatedly warned Syria that such troop deployment would pose a threat to Israel's security. Syria chose to ignore these warnings."
"Israel will not tolerate threats to its security and would welcome a return to the status quo," Netanyahu's office said.
Turkey's Foreign Ministry statement did not specify whether its troops were at the Syrian base. "The frivolous accusations made by the office of the Israeli Prime Minister are aimed at legitimizing Israel's illegal airstrikes, which infringe upon Syria's sovereignty and territorial integrity," stated Turkey's Directorate of Communications (quoted by Anadolu Agency).
Tom Barac, the US Ambassador to Turkey and Special Envoy for Syria and Iraq, wrote on X on Tuesday afternoon that Israeli airstrikes on the Abu al-Duhur airbase "represent an unnecessary escalation that does not contribute to regional stability." According to him, the government of Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa "has repeatedly stated its preference for de-escalation in relations with Israel."
The American diplomat also reported that the US is working on creating a conflict prevention mechanism between Israel, Turkey, and Syria. According to him, Ankara was not warned about the Israeli strikes, "and, therefore, observed planes heading north towards its territory, and thus could have quite reasonably prepared its own response [to Israel's attack on the Syrian base]."
"Fortunately, cool heads prevailed, preventing further deterioration of the situation," Barac said in a phone interview with Reuters.
Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shibani called for a halt to the attacks, stating that Israel should reconsider its position towards Syria, as it is confronting not only Damascus but also Syria's allies, the publication writes.
"These attacks have no security justification," the minister stated at a joint press conference with IAEA chief Rafael Grossi in Damascus. "We will continue to pursue a diplomatic path to persuade Israel to abandon this policy and force it to stop attacks on Syria."
The Abu al-Duhur airbase, located approximately 70 km from the Turkish border, has not been used as a military airfield since 2013 and changed hands several times during the 14-year civil war.
Israel has repeatedly struck Syrian forces since the overthrow of President Bashar al-Assad in 2024, and has also seized territories in the country's southwest.
The targets of the attacks included weaponry and military equipment, as well as government facilities in the south and central parts of the country. Israel last attacked Syria in March.
Israel views the new Syrian authorities with deep distrust due to their Islamist past, despite President al-Sharaa's warm relations with the West.
At the same time, al-Sharaa stated in July that Damascus seeks to conclude a security agreement with the Israeli government.
Tuesday's strikes followed an escalation of security tensions between Israel and Turkey and an increase in their rhetoric regarding Syria. Ankara accused Israel of attempting to undermine the new government's position. In early August, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan called on the international community to pressure Israel to respect Syria's territorial integrity.
Turkey, which has the second-largest army in NATO and signed a mutual defense agreement with Pakistan and Saudi Arabia in August, has become one of al-Sharaa's main allies. It is involved in training the Syrian army, helping to restore state institutions and infrastructure, and providing diplomatic support.
Last year, Turkey and Israel had already announced the creation of a communication channel that would help avoid incidents in Syria, where the armed forces of both countries operate.
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