Key facts
- Israel conducted airstrikes on Syria's Abu al-Duhur air base.
- Turkey denied Israeli claims that its troop presence at the base constituted a security threat.
- U.S. envoy Tom Barrack called the strikes an 'unnecessary escalation' and warned of a risk of direct confrontation with Turkey.
- Turkey condemned the strikes as a violation of international law.
- Israel cited Syria's potential acceptance of Turkish troops at the base as a security threat.
Israel carried out airstrikes against the Abu al-Duhur air base near Aleppo on Tuesday, drawing condemnation from Turkey and criticism from a U.S. envoy who called the attack an 'unnecessary escalation' that threatens regional stability. U.S. Ambassador to Turkey and Syria envoy Tom Barrack warned that the strike carried a 'real risk of rapid escalation into a direct military confrontation' with both Syria and Turkey, noting that Turkish forces received no warning. Israel stated that Syria was on the verge of breaching a security status quo by permitting Turkish troops to deploy to the airbase, which it viewed as a threat. Turkey firmly rejected these allegations as 'untenable,' stating they were intended to legitimize Israel's unlawful airstrikes targeting Syria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. The U.S. envoy stated Washington is working to establish a deconfliction mechanism among Israel, Turkey, and Syria.