Israel Strikes Base in Syria, Opens Front Against Turkey
Israel’s attack on the Abu al-Duhur airbase in Syria has been described as potentially triggering a war with Turkey. Israel is reportedly beginning to prepare war scenarios by partnering with the Greek military.
In an interview with The Jerusalem Post, US Ambassador to Turkey and special envoy for Syria, Tom Barrack, stated that Israel’s strike on the Abu al-Duhur airbase in Syria carries a ‘real risk of rapid escalation into direct military confrontation’ with both Turkey and Syria.
Barrack told the Israeli newspaper that Turkish forces were unaware of any Israeli aircraft heading towards the Syrian base or the purpose of that movement.
Therefore, he said, they ‘could potentially be prompted to deploy their own fighter jets believing they were under attack’. ‘Yesterday’s incident was serious and concerning. However, we are relieved that there were no casualties and the situation did not deteriorate further,’ Barrack added.
Israel confirmed it was behind the overnight airstrike targeting a Syrian military airbase—a location Israel claims was to be used for troop deployment by Turkey.
‘Israel and Syria had agreed on a status quo regarding security matters, but Syria nearly violated it by allowing Turkish forces to be stationed at an airbase near Aleppo,’ read a statement in English from the office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The Prime Minister’s Office stated that Israel ‘has repeatedly warned Syria that such deployment would threaten Israel’s security.’
‘Syria chose to ignore these warnings,’ Netanyahu’s office said, adding that Israel ‘will not tolerate threats to its security, and would welcome a return to the status quo.’
In response, Ankara condemned the ‘reckless accusations made by the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office’—as stated in a Turkish government statement quoted by the state-run Anadolu news agency—and said the accusations ‘aim to legitimise Israel’s illegal airstrikes targeting Syria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.’