Abu al-Duhur base following strikes, Syria, August 18, 2026. Eight Israeli airstrikes hit an airbase in northwestern Syria early on Tuesday, Syrian state media said, in what the U.S. envoy for the region called an "unnecessary escalation." The Israeli military declined to comment on the strikes while the Syrian defense ministry did not respond. (Credit: REUTERS/Stringer)
BERUT – Eight Israeli airstrikes hit the Abu al-Duhur military airbase in northwestern Syria early Tuesday, targeting the runway and storage facilities, Syria’s state-run Al-Ikhbariya reported, citing a military source.
No casualties were reported. The Israeli military did not comment, while Syria’s Foreign Ministry condemned the strikes as an “unjustified Israeli aggression.”
An Israeli official said Tuesday evening that the strike was aimed at “preventing an expansion of Turkey’s military presence” in Syria, whose government under Ahmad al-Sharaa is an ally of Ankara, according to remarks reported by the U.S. news site Axios. “There was no Turkish presence at the air base. Israel is inventing pretexts to bomb neighboring countries and destabilize the region,” a Turkish official immediately countered on the same site.
U.S. special envoy for Syria and Iraq Tom Barrack also criticized the strikes, calling them an “unnecessary escalation” that does not contribute to regional stability. In a statement on X, Barrack said Washington was “deeply concerned” and urged all sides to prioritize dialogue over further military incidents.
Israel has carried out hundreds of strikes on Syria since December 2024, with the latest reported attack taking place in March. The Abu al-Duhur facility, heavily damaged during the Syrian civil war, has been out of service since 2012. Since the fall of the former Syrian regime in December 2024, it has reportedly been used as a training center for Syria’s new army.
The strikes come amid growing tensions between Israel and Turkey over Syria. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has accused Israel of threatening Syria’s security through repeated attacks, while Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz has warned against moves that could strengthen Syria’s military capabilities.
Syria has also begun rebuilding its air force. Earlier this month, it conducted air exercises using Russian-made MiG-21 fighter jets, its first such exercises since Bashar al-Assad’s ouster. Israeli broadcaster Kan reported that Syria was accelerating efforts to rebuild its air force, including recruiting pilots and expanding flight training.
The Abu al-Duhur airport is located about 27 kilometers east of Saraqib, near the village of Abu al-Duhur. Its strategic location connects parts of Idlib, Hama and Aleppo and places it near the Syrian desert.
