Israel communicated to the Trump administration that its recent airstrike on a Syrian airbase was intended to prevent a military buildup by Turkey in the region, according to U.S. and Israeli officials. The strike, which took place early on Tuesday, resulted in damage to runways and hangars at the Abu al-Duhur Airbase, located approximately 45 miles from the Turkish border, but no casualties were reported. Initially, Israel did not claim responsibility for the strike, and an Israeli military censor imposed a gag order on confirming the involvement of the Israel Defense Forces. However, U.S. Ambassador to Turkey Tom Barrack later disclosed that Israel conducted the strike, expressing that the Trump administration was "deeply concerned" and labeling the action as "an unnecessary escalation that does not advance regional stability."
Twenty hours after the strike, the Israeli Prime Minister's office acknowledged the operation, stating that Syria was on the verge of violating an agreement with Israel by allowing Turkish troops to deploy at the airbase. The Israeli government had informed White House officials about the strike in advance, asserting that it aimed to deter Turkey from sending advanced weaponry to the site. In contrast, a Turkish official denied any military presence at the airbase, accusing Israel of fabricating reasons for its actions. Some U.S. officials speculated that the timing of the strike may be linked to Israel's upcoming elections, noting that the Syrian government had been seeking to establish a security agreement to reduce tensions along the border.