Israeli Strikes Syrian Airbase Hours After Turkish Delegation Visit

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Israeli strikes hit the Abu Duhur air base in northern Syria early Tuesday, hours after a Turkish delegation had visited and left. Syrian officials, speaking anonymously, stated the Turkish delegation visited the air base in the northwestern province of Idlib on Monday to review rehabilitation work. This marked the first confirmation of a Turkish presence at the Abu Duhur base. The Turkish ministry, however, stated on Thursday that Turkish military personnel were not at the Syrian airbase during or before the Israeli strike. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office stated Israel attacked the base because Syria was on the verge of breaching an agreed-upon status quo in security matters by allowing Turkish troops to deploy there. The strikes caused damage but no casualties. Turkiye's communications directorate accused Netanyahu of making untenable allegations intended to legitimize Israel's unlawful airstrikes and pursue expansionist and destabilizing policies ahead of Israeli elections. Turkiye affirmed it will resolutely continue to cooperate with the Syrian Government on a legitimate basis for the establishment of peace, stability, and prosperity in Syria. The US criticized Israel for striking the Syrian military base near the Turkish border, describing the attack as an unnecessary escalation. Tom Barrack, the U.S. ambassador to Turkiye and special envoy to Syria, condemned the attack, as did a number of Arab countries. Senior US officials were reportedly frustrated by Israel's latest airstrikes, exposing tensions between US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Syrian state TV reported eight strikes targeted the runway and storage facilities at Abu Duhur airbase.

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