An Israeli air strike on the Abu al Duhur Airbase in Idlib province, Syria, has led to public criticism from the United States. U.S. Special Envoy Tom Barrack described the strike as an "unnecessary escalation." The Israeli military conducted the air strikes on August 18, 2026, targeting the runway and storage facilities at the base, according to Syrian state media. No casualties were reported.
The Israeli Prime Minister's office confirmed the strike, stating that Syria was breaching a security understanding by allowing Turkish troops to deploy at the airbase. The statement emphasized that Israel had warned Syria about the potential threat posed by this deployment.
In response to the air strikes, Barrack expressed concern that the actions do not contribute to regional stability. He noted that the Syrian government had shown a preference for de-escalation with Israel. The Syrian Foreign Ministry condemned the attack, labeling it as a dangerous escalation and a violation of Syria's sovereignty.
An unnamed senior Israeli official indicated that Israel had shared sensitive intelligence with the United States prior to the strike. The official suggested that the Syrian government may not fully understand the implications of its actions regarding its relationship with Turkey, which has been increasingly supportive of Syria.
The air strike is seen as part of Israel's broader concerns regarding Turkey's growing influence in Syria, particularly in light of Turkey's recent cooperation with the Syrian government.