Syrian officials have reported that Israeli airstrikes targeted the Abu Duhur air base in the country’s northwest early Tuesday, causing damage. The strikes occurred hours after a Turkish delegation had reportedly visited the facility.
Information was available with The Chenab Times indicating that two Syrian officials, speaking on the condition of anonymity, confirmed a Turkish delegation visited the air base on Monday. The delegation’s purpose was reportedly to review ongoing rehabilitation work at the facility, which lies in the northwestern province of Idlib. This visit marked the first confirmation of a Turkish presence at the Abu Duhur base.
The Israeli Prime Minister’s office stated that the strikes were a response to Syria being on the verge of breaching an agreed-upon security status quo by permitting Turkish troop deployments. While neither Turkish nor Syrian officials have publicly detailed Turkiye’s role at the base, both nations condemned the Israeli attack.
In response to the Israeli action, Turkiye’s communications directorate accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of making baseless allegations. The directorate asserted that these claims were intended to legitimize unlawful Israeli airstrikes targeting Syria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. It further alleged that Netanyahu’s actions were aimed at pursuing expansionist and destabilizing policies in the region ahead of upcoming elections in Israel. Turkiye reaffirmed its commitment to cooperating with the Syrian government on a legitimate basis to establish peace and stability in Syria, stating it would not permit the destabilization of the country.
The Abu Duhur air base holds strategic importance, situated near the borders of Idlib, Aleppo, and Hama provinces. Historically, the base was used to operate MiG-23 and MiG-21 fighter jets, as well as L-39 aircraft, during the tenure of former Syrian President Bashar Assad.
Turkiye has been providing support to Syria’s armed forces through training programs for Syrian personnel at Turkish military schools and bases, alongside supplying equipment and logistical assistance. The specific types of equipment involved have not been disclosed by officials. An agreement formalizing military cooperation between the two countries was signed last year, and Syrian troops have also participated in military exercises held in Turkiye earlier this year. Turkish officials have consistently maintained that Ankara views Syria’s security as intrinsically linked to its own.
Meanwhile, Israel has expressed reservations regarding the new authorities in Damascus, which are led by former Islamist insurgents. Syria’s interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa has repeatedly stated his government’s desire to avoid conflict with Israel. Israel has conducted numerous airstrikes across Syria following the fall of Assad’s government, primarily targeting Syrian army assets to prevent them from falling into the hands of his successors. The Israeli military also assumed control of a U.N.-patrolled buffer zone in southern Syria, which it continues to occupy.
The chief of staff of the Israeli army, Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, toured the occupied area in Syria on Wednesday, informing troops that Israel would not permit hostile forces to establish themselves on its borders and would utilize its operational capabilities precisely where and when necessary. While Turkiye, a NATO member with recent defense pacts with Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, gave no indication of a military response to the Israeli strikes, the incident has exacerbated existing tensions in Turkish-Israeli relations.
Historically, Turkiye and Israel were close allies, but their relationship has experienced significant friction under President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s rule, despite brief periods of reconciliation. Erdogan has been a vocal critic of Israel’s policies concerning Palestinians, while Israel has been angered by Erdogan’s support for the Hamas militant group. The change in Syrian leadership has further strained relations as both nations seek to curtail each other’s influence in the neighboring country, with some analysts expressing concern about the potential for a proxy war.
The Chenab Times News Desk