Israel strikes Syrian airbase as Turkey and Damascus deny troop deployment plans

Airstrike on Abu al-Duhur

On Tuesday, Israeli fighter jets launched airstrikes against the Abu al-Duhur military airfield in Syria's northwestern Idlib province. The airbase had suffered extensive damage during the Syrian civil war and remained out of service since 2012. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that the bombing targeted the site after Damascus permitted a Turkish military delegation to inspect the facility. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights stated that the Turkish visit was part of ongoing efforts to return the airport to operational service. Netanyahu told military radio that Israel warned Syria repeatedly and would not permit Turkish military entrenchment moving south.

Our message was very clear. Don't. I guess they didn't quite understand the message.

Diplomatic warnings and exchange of threats

The military strike triggered immediate friction between Israeli and Turkish officials. On Thursday, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz posted a statement on X in both Hebrew and Turkish, accusing Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of dragging Turkey into dangerous adventures in Syria. Katz added that Erdogan should deliver speeches in parliament rather than test Israeli resolve to defend itself. On Wednesday, Israeli Chief of Staff General Eyal Zamir toured military positions in southern Syria, declaring that Israeli forces would use operational capabilities wherever necessary to prevent hostile deployments near the border. The Turkish presidency responded on Thursday by ruling out a military counterstrike, stating Ankara would not fall into an Israeli trap.

Israel will not allow any entity to threaten its security.

Syrian denial of foreign military basing

Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani rejected Israeli claims that the installation was designated for foreign troops. Speaking to Axios, al-Shaibani emphasized that the site remained largely empty and non-operational while undergoing rehabilitation strictly for the Syrian Air Force. He confirmed that Turkish military officers visited the base for training and technical cooperation, but denied any deployment plans or military build-up. Al-Shaibani added that Damascus had engaged in a year of U.S.-mediated security talks with Israel that achieved progress before Israeli officials backed away. He warned that any future deal must respect Syrian sovereignty and that continued Israeli attacks would increase regional instability.

There was no intention to establish a Turkish base there, nor to establish a permanent Turkish military presence or deploy Turkish forces at the site.

Growing friction and expanding military footprints

The confrontation adds to long-standing strains between Israel and Turkey, which began with close ties in the late 1990s after Turkey became the first Muslim-majority country to recognize Israel in 1949. Relations soured after Israeli forces killed nine Turkish activists aboard the Mavi Marmara aid vessel in 2010, and a 2022 reconciliation push collapsed during the Gaza war. Ankara remains a primary backer of Syrian interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa following the collapse of Bashar al-Assad's government in December 2024. Meanwhile, Israel has expanded its own military operations into southern Syria, voiding the 1974 disengagement agreement. United Nations monitors from UNDOF reported in November 2025 that Israeli forces had constructed 10 military bases across the demilitarized buffer zone.