US condemns ’unnecessary escalation’ after Israeli airstrikes on Syrian airbase.
Eight airstrikes hit the Abu Duhur airport runway and storage facility on Tuesday, according to Syrian state TV, although there were no reports of injuries.
Israel, while not commenting directly, said Syria was on the verge of breaching the security status quo, accusing Damascus of allowing Turkish troops to deploy to the airbase.
Syria and Turkey blamed the Israeli military for the attacks, which they said threaten to elevate regional tensions.
Tom Barrack, the U.S. ambassador to Turkey and Special Envoy for Syria and Iraq, criticised the strikes in a statement posted on X.
"We are deeply concerned that the confirmed Israeli airstrikes on Abu al‑Duhur Airbase constitute an unnecessary escalation that does not advance regional stability," Barrack wrote.
The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu published a statement: "Israel and Syria agreed to a status quo in security matters, which Syria was on the verge of breaching by permitting Turkish troops to deploy at an airbase near Aleppo."
Syria’s foreign ministry described the attacks as an “unjustified act of aggression” that imperils regional security and stability.
Turkey did not confirm whether its troops moved to the Abu Duhur airbase, 70 km from the Turkish border. Ankara rejected Israel’s suggestion that it posed a threat.
"The frivolous allegations put forward by the Israeli Prime Minister’s office aim to legitimize Israel’s unlawful airstrikes targeting Syria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity," Turkey’s Communications Directorate said.
The Abu Duhur base has been out of service as a dedicated military airfield since 2013. Rebel forces seized control of the base during a December 2024 offensive.
Syria has been trying to rebuild its military facilities damaged during the recent offensive that saw Bashar al‑Assad’s government overthrown within two weeks.
Israel has carried out airstrikes on parts of central and southern Syria since Al‑Sharaa came to power, with the latest strikes being the most significant since March.
Barack noted that Syria’s President Ahmed al‑Sharaa, who led the rebel forces against Assad, has “neither adopted nor maintained proxy forces” and repeatedly indicated a preference for de‑escalation with Israel.
The US will continue to offer to host diplomatic discussions between both sides to address kinetic frustrations, Barrack added.
Al‑Sharaa has forged closer ties with the West since taking power, highlighted by being the first Syrian leader to visit the White House in November last year.
