Earlier this week, the Associated Press reported that Israel struck an air base in Northwestern Syria, reportedly to prevent Turkey from deploying there. It was seen, the report said, as part of a struggle between Israel and Turkey over influence in Syria.
The base is the Abu Duhur air base in Idlib, which was hit eight times, per the AP story. There were no casualties. Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani denounced “Israeli aggression,” which he called “an unjustified provocation, a violation of Syria’s sovereignty, and a direct threat to regional and global stability.”
F-35I Adir High in the Sky. Image Credit: IDF/Creative Commons.
F-35I Adir Fighter. Image Credit: Israeli Air Force.
In an Axios interview, the Syrian foreign minister said that the work on the military base was limited to rehabilitating areas that were damaged during the Syrian civil war, and that “there was no Turkish military build-up at the base in any sense that would justify such an interpretation.” And while Turkish personnel had visited the base in the days before it was attacked, al-Shibani described that visit as part of “ongoing military cooperation in the areas of training and the exchange of expertise.”
The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, however, said the attack happened because Syria was in danger of breaching a “status quo in security matters” by allowing the Turkish military to deploy in Syria. Netanyahu’s office said that it had warned Syria before striking the base.
View from the U.S. Embassy
Meanwhile, Tom Barrack, who is both the U.S. ambassador to Turkey and special envoy to Syria, said on X that the embassy was “ deeply concerned that the confirmed Israeli airstrikes on Abu al-Duhur Airbase constitute an unnecessary escalation that does not advance regional stability.”
He went on to praise Syria’s Al-Sharra government for having “repeatedly indicated a preference for de-escalation with Israel.”
When asked about the incident by Axios on Wednesday, President Donald Trump told reporter Barak Ravid, “I can’t talk about it,” although he did confirm that he had been briefed on the strike.
Trash Talk Continues
Israel and Turkey, on Thursday, continued sniping at one another.
According to Reuters, Israel accused Turkey of “dangerous adventures in Syria,” with Turkey responding by calling Israel’s attacks “reckless.”
Al-Shaibani, Syria’s foreign minister, had told Axios earlier in the week that Turkey had no intention of setting up a permanent base at the airbase, and that Syria had made that clear to Israel before they bombed the base.
On Thursday, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz, per Reuters, warned Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan against “dragging Turkey into dangerous adventures in Syria” and “testing Israel’s determination to defend itself.”
How We Got Here
In late 2024, the fall of Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad put an end to more than 50 years of his family’s rule in Syria. This led to Ahmed al-Sharaa, one of the opposition leaders during the long Syrian civil war, assuming Syria’s presidency in early 2025. Turkey, throughout the Syrian Civil War, had been supportive of the anti-Assad forces.
As noted by Reuters, during the Assad era, Israel was concerned about Iran’s influence on Syria, but since the regime change, they have been more concerned about Turkey’s role in that country.
This, Reuters noted, has led to numerous strikes by Israel on Syria since the end of the Assad regime, in which the Israelis have pointed to “concerns over the new rulers’ militant background and saying it also aims to protect the Druze community, a minority with followers in Israel,” Reuters reported on recent relations between Israel and Syria.
Al-Sharaa, the Syrian president, had been part of al Qaeda in Iraq during an earlier phase in his career. However, he has taken on a more Western-friendly posture since taking power, even visiting the White House in November of last year, and was also shown playing basketball with American military commanders.
What Will the U.S. Do?
In Al Jazeera on Wednesday, Justin Salhani wrote about the need for the U.S. to put pressure on Israel to avoid a wider conflict in the region.
Barrack, the analysis says, has spoken of a “deconfliction mechanism” among Israel, Syria and Turkey. However, “analysts believe the proposal may not be able to stop Israel, which has conducted regular attacks on Syria for years, and continues to occupy Syrian territory.”
About the Author: Stephen Silver
Stephen Silver is an award-winning journalist, essayist, and film critic, and contributor to the Philadelphia Inquirer, the Jewish Telegraphic Agency, Broad Street Review, and Splice Today. The co-founder of the Philadelphia Film Critics Circle, Stephen lives in suburban Philadelphia with his wife and two sons. For over a decade, Stephen has authored thousands of articles that focus on politics, national security, technology, and the economy. Follow him on X (formerly Twitter) at @StephenSilver, and subscribe to his Substack newsletter.
