Israel struck Syria’s Abu al-Duhur airbase on Tuesday morning after warning that Syria was on the verge of letting Turkish troops deploy from the site. Netanyahu's office took responsibility the next day, saying Israel would not tolerate threats to its security.
The airbase is near Aleppo, and the strike caused damage but no casualties. Netanyahu's office said Israel had repeatedly warned Syria that the deployment would threaten Israel's security, while Syria was told to keep the base out of any move that could shift the military balance around it.
Türkiye rejects Israel's account
On Wednesday, Türkiye called Israel's allegations untenable. Türkiye said the claims were meant to legitimize Israel’s unlawful airstrikes targeting Syria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and said Benjamin Netanyahu intended to pursue expansionist and destabilizing policies in the region ahead of the elections in Israel.
Türkiye also said it would continue to cooperate with the Syrian Government on a legitimate basis for the establishment of peace, stability, and prosperity in Syria. That puts Türkiye’s response on a direct collision course with Netanyahu's office, which framed the strike as a response to a security threat rather than a bid to redraw the military map in Syria.
Tom Barrack's deconfliction push
Tom Barrack, the U.S. ambassador to Turkey and U.S. special envoy for Syria, said the airstrikes were “an unnecessary escalation that does not advance regional stability.” Barrack also said Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa has “not adopted a predatory posture nor maintained proxy forces” and has “repeatedly indicated a preference for de-escalation with Israel.”
Barrack said he is working to establish a deconfliction mechanism to ease tensions between Israel, Turkey and Syria. That leaves the practical question in Washington and the region on a narrow track: whether military signaling around the Abu al-Duhur airbase gives way to a channel that keeps the same airspace from becoming the next flashpoint.
