Israel strikes Syrian airbase to block Turkish troop deployment
Israel bombed Idlib's Abu Duhur airbase to prevent a Turkish troop deployment. Damascus and Ankara condemned the sovereignty violation. The raid reportedly followed a rare phone call between Israel's Mossad chief and Syria's foreign minister.
Geopolitics··Midday
Airstrikes on Idlib base
The Israeli military launched eight airstrikes on the Abu Duhur airbase in northwestern Idlib province, damaging the runway without causing casualties. The Israeli prime minister's office justified the operation by stating that Damascus was on the verge of breaching an agreed security status quo by permitting Turkish forces to deploy at the facility. Washington's envoy for Syria confirmed the Israeli role but characterized the strikes as an unnecessary escalation.[1], [2]
Reactions from Damascus and Ankara
The attack drew immediate condemnation from both Damascus and Ankara. Syria's foreign minister called the raid an unjustified provocation and a violation of its sovereignty, appealing to the UN Security Council for action. Turkey, which supports the Syrian government and has been assisting in the reconstruction of the base, rejected the Israeli justification as untenable allegations and similarly condemned the breach of Syrian territory.[1], [2]
Intelligence-level contact
The military action followed a rare high-level diplomatic exchange between Israeli and Syrian intelligence officials. Four days before the airstrikes, the director of Israel's Mossad reportedly held a phone call with the Syrian foreign minister to press Damascus on Turkey's growing military footprint, arms sales, and drone deployments in the country. US officials indicated they are attempting to establish a deconfliction mechanism among Israel, Turkey, and Syria to prevent further clashes.[3]
