Israel strikes Syrian air base, drawing US criticism and condemnation from Turkey

Israel launched eight airstrikes targeting the Abu al-Duhur military airbase in northwestern Syria on August 18, 2026, causing material damage but no casualties. The strikes drew sharp condemnation from Turkey and rare public criticism from U.S. Envoy Tom Barrack, who labeled the attack an "unnecessary escalation." While the U.S. has fostered closer ties with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa's new government, Israel remains deeply suspicious of its Islamist roots and efforts to rebuild its air force.

Abu al-Duhur airbase strikes

• ▪The Israeli military declined to comment on the August 18, 2026 airstrikes, while a senior Israeli official stated that Israel notified the United States in advance and shared highly sensitive intelligence.
• ▪The Abu al-Duhur airbase has been out of service as a dedicated military airfield since 2013 and was recently used as a training center for Syria's new army.
• ▪Israel carried out eight airstrikes targeting the runway and storage facilities of the Abu al-Duhur military airbase in northwestern Syria early on August 18, 2026.
• ▪The airstrikes on the Abu al-Duhur military airbase caused material damage to the airport's infrastructure but resulted in no casualties.
• ▪The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that the airstrikes occurred after a Turkish military delegation visited the Abu al-Duhur airfield to discuss rehabilitating the facility.

US criticism of Israel

• ▪Ambassador Tom Barrack urged all involved parties to prioritize logical discourse and restraint over further military incidents in Syria.
• ▪Ambassador Tom Barrack, the United States special presidential envoy for Syria and Iraq, condemned the Israeli airstrikes on the Abu al-Duhur airbase as an unnecessary escalation that does not advance regional stability.

Syrian de-escalation posture

• ▪The United States special envoy Tom Barrack stated that the Syrian government led by President Ahmed al-Sharaa has not adopted a predatory posture, does not maintain proxy forces, and has indicated a preference for de-escalation with Israel.
• ▪The Syrian Foreign Ministry condemned the airstrikes as an unjustified act of aggression and a flagrant violation of Syria's sovereignty and territorial integrity.
• ▪Syrian Foreign Minister Assad al-Shibani stated that Syria would continue its diplomatic path to dissuade Israel from its policy of military attacks.

Turkey condemnation of strikes

• ▪The Turkish Foreign Ministry strongly condemned the Israeli airstrikes on the Abu al-Duhur airbase, calling them a violation of Syria's territorial unity and international law.
• ▪Turkey called on the international community to take a more decisive and resolute stance to end Israel's escalating aggression against Syria.
• ▪Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz has warned Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan that Israel will not allow steps that strengthen Syria's military capabilities in ways that threaten Israel.

US-Israel policy tensions

• ▪Israeli security officials detected signs of Syria accelerating efforts to rebuild its air force, including pilot recruitment and flight training, and shared these concerns with the United States.
• ▪Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's administration remains deeply suspicious of President Ahmed al-Sharaa's government due to its Islamist militant roots and has deployed forces into southwestern Syria.
• ▪The Donald Trump administration has fostered closer ties with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa's government, including lifting economic sanctions and inviting him to the White House.

5 sources