Syria condemns Israeli strikes on Abu al-Duhur base, U.S. calls them unnecessary escalation

The Syrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates condemned Israeli airstrikes targeting the Abu al-Duhur airbase in Idlib Governorate, describing them as a dangerous escalation that threatens Syria’s security and regional stability. Meanwhile, U.S. Special Envoy for Syria and Iraq Thomas Barrack expressed Washington’s concern over the strikes and described them as “unnecessary escalation.”

The Syrian state-run Al-Ikhbariya TV quoted a military source as saying that eight Israeli airstrikes targeted the military base in northwestern Syria early Tuesday, hitting the runway and storage facilities. No injuries were reported, according to a military source and a civilian source residing near the base.

The Israeli military did not comment on the strikes.

Reuters reported that the Abu al-Duhur airbase is located about 70 kilometers from the Turkish border and had been out of service as a military airport since 2013. Its administration changed several times during Syria’s years of war. The report quoted a military source as saying that, since the ouster of Bashar al-Assad in late 2024, the base had been used as a training center for members of the new Syrian army.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates said in a statement that Israel’s continued attacks since December 8, 2024, alongside the Syrian state’s commitment to restraint, once again reveal attempts by Israel to undermine efforts to consolidate stability and avoid escalation. It said the attacks are pushing the region toward greater tension and instability.

The ministry held Israel responsible for the escalation and called on the international community and the UN Security Council to condemn the strikes and take a firm position against what it described as repeated Israeli violations of Syrian sovereignty.

In a U.S. response, U.S. Special Envoy for Syria and Iraq Thomas Barrack said that the United States was “deeply concerned” about the confirmed Israeli strikes on the Abu al-Duhur airbase, describing them as “unnecessary escalation” that does not serve regional stability.

Barrack added that Ahmad al-Sharaa’s government “has not adopted an aggressive approach and has not maintained proxy forces,” noting that it has repeatedly affirmed its preference for de-escalation with Israel.

He made clear that the United States has previously hosted, and will continue to host, talks aimed at encouraging the diplomatic track rather than resorting to military action, stressing that sustainable de-escalation agreements are built through continued dialogue with all relevant countries and parties.

The strikes come just days after Axios reported that U.S. President Donald Trump had rejected an Israeli request to strike targets inside Syria.