Israel Strikes Syrian Airbase After Turkish Military Visit, Drawing Rare U.S. Rebuke

by Emmitt Barry, Worthy News Washington D.C. Bureau Chief

(Worthy News) – Israel carried out an unusual airstrike deep inside northwestern Syria early Tuesday, targeting the strategic Abu al-Duhur military airfield shortly after a Turkish military delegation reportedly visited the base to assess its rehabilitation, according to Israeli and Syrian reports. The operation prompted a rare public rebuke from a senior U.S. envoy.

Syrian military officials said four aircraft struck the airfield in Idlib province, damaging runways, storage facilities, and other infrastructure. Damascus said eight strikes hit the runway and reported no casualties.

While the Israel Defense Forces initially declined to comment, Ynet reported that a senior Israeli official later acknowledged Israel carried out the operation and said Jerusalem had provided Washington with sensitive intelligence ahead of the strike. According to the official, the intelligence was shared at senior levels of the U.S. government.

The Jerusalem Post separately reported that Israel recently supplied the United States with intelligence concerning Syrian attempts to expand its military capabilities. Israeli sources cited by the newspaper initially denied Israeli involvement.

Turkish Activity Raises Israeli Concerns

The timing of the strike may be especially significant. Regional reports said a Turkish military delegation had recently inspected Abu al-Duhur as part of efforts to reactivate the installation. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights also reported that the attack followed a Turkish military visit to the facility.

Israel has increasingly watched Turkey’s expanding military influence in post-Assad Syria with concern, particularly efforts that could strengthen Damascus’ air capabilities or establish a significant Turkish military presence near Israel’s northern frontier.

Abu al-Duhur lies roughly 70 kilometers (44 miles) from the Turkish border and occupies a strategically important position between Idlib, Hama, and Aleppo. The base has reportedly served as a training facility for Syria’s reconstituted army since the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s government in late 2024.

Washington Publicly Rebukes Israel

U.S. Special Envoy for Syria and Iraq Tom Barrack issued unusually sharp criticism of the operation, saying Washington was “deeply concerned” and describing the confirmed Israeli strikes as an “unnecessary escalation” that did not advance regional stability.

Barrack defended Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa’s government, arguing that Damascus had not adopted an aggressive posture or maintained proxy forces and had repeatedly signaled an interest in reducing tensions with Israel. He urged restraint and continued diplomatic engagement.

Turkey and Syria also condemned the attack. Damascus called it a violation of Syrian sovereignty, while Ankara urged the international community to respond more forcefully to Israeli military operations inside Syria.

Worthy News Analysis

The strike appears to highlight a widening strategic dispute over who will shape Syria after Assad.

For Israel, the concern is no longer limited to Iranian weapons transfers and Hezbollah infrastructure. Turkey — a NATO member with one of the region’s largest militaries — has emerged as an increasingly influential player inside Syria. A Turkish role in rebuilding Syrian airbases or military capabilities could fundamentally alter Israel’s security calculations along its northern frontier.

The unusually public disagreement between Washington and Jerusalem is equally noteworthy. While the Trump administration is pursuing engagement with Syria’s new government, Israel appears unwilling to allow diplomatic optimism to override what it views as emerging military threats.

The result is a delicate three-way struggle involving Israel, Turkey, and Syria, with Washington attempting to prevent another confrontation while Jerusalem signals that it intends to preserve freedom of action against military developments it considers dangerous.

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