Israeli Airstrikes Hit Abu al-duhur Airbase in Northwest Syria

Eight airstrikes hit the Abu al-Duhur Military Airbase in eastern Idlib early Tuesday morning. Syrian state media, local military sources, and the US envoy confirmed the attack, which targeted the base's main runway and storage facilities.

Casualties: None reported. The strikes only caused physical damage to the runway and infrastructure.

Reactions: Syria condemned the attack as a violation of sovereignty. US Special Envoy Tom Barrack criticized the strikes as an

"unnecessary escalation,"

noting Syria's new government isn't taking a hostile stance.

Why Now & Why This Base?

The following are the concerns of the Israeli enemy behind the attack :

Rebuilding the Syrian Air Force: Intelligence recently flagged that Syria has been trying to restore its aerial capabilities—including flight training sessions using Su-22 jets. Striking the runway immediately halts those operations.

Blocking Foreign Influence: A Turkish military delegation recently visited Abu al-Duhur to assess reactivating the site. Located just 70 km from the Turkish border, Israel wants to prevent Turkish entrenchment or strategic deployments deep in northern Syria.

Preemptive Denial: Following the fall of the former regime, Israel’s policy remains focused on neutralizing air defense systems, radars, and strategic airfields before they can become operational threats.