US rebukes Israel for strikes on Syrian airbase
On Tuesday, eight Israeli jets attacked the Abu Duhur airbase in Syria, just 70km from the Turkish border. No injuries were reported, but the hit sparked sharp criticism from Washington.
Tom Barrack, the U.S. ambassador to Turkey and special envoy for Syria and Iraq, posted on X that the assault was an “unnecessary escalation” that "does not advance regional stability".
Israel said Syria was about to breach a security status‑quo because it allowed Turkish troops to set up there – a claim that both Syria and Turkey rejected, describing the raid as an unjustified act of aggression.
The Abu Duhur base had been idle since 2013, when anti‑Assad rebels captured it in late 2024. It has since been partially rebuilt. Relations among Israel, Syria, Turkey and the U.S. remain fraught, and the U.S. keeps diplomatic options open.
Read more about the shifting dynamics in the Middle East.
