Archive · 18 Aug 2026
US Envoy Calls Israeli Airstrikes on Syrian Airbase 'Unnecessary Escalation'
There is an important American official named Tom Barrack.
He is the US special envoy, or messenger, for Syria.
He said that Israel attacked an old military airport in Syria.
The airport is called Abu al-Duhur Airbase and is in the northwestern part of the country.
The attack happened early on Tuesday.
Eight airstrikes hit the runway and some storage buildings.
Nobody was hurt, but the buildings were damaged.
Barrack said the attack was an 'unnecessary escalation,' which is a way of saying it was a step in the wrong direction.
He wants the countries to talk instead of fighting.
Israel is worried that Syria might build a strong military again, and there are also tensions with Turkey over this.
US envoy for Syria Tom Barrack confirmed Israel carried out eight airstrikes on the Abu al-Duhur Airbase in northwestern Syria early Tuesday.
Barrack called the strikes an 'unnecessary escalation' that does not advance regional stability, urging all parties to prioritize 'logical discourse over further military incidents.'
Barrack said President Ahmed al-Sharaa's government has preferred de-escalation with Israel and has neither adopted a predatory posture nor maintained proxy forces.
The strikes hit the runway and storage facilities, causing material damage but no casualties, according to Syrian state media and military sources.
Israel declined to comment, while Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz has warned against steps to rebuild Syria's air force amid heightened Israel-Turkey tensions.
- Who
- Tom Barrack, the US special presidential envoy for Syria and Iraq, who confirmed Israel carried out the strikes.
- What
- Eight Israeli airstrikes hit the runway and storage facilities of the disused Abu al-Duhur Airbase, causing material damage but no casualties.
- When
- Early Tuesday; the report is dated August 18.
- Where
- Abu al-Duhur Airbase in northwestern Syria, about 70 km from the Turkish border.
- Why
- Israel has not stated its reasons; the strikes came amid tensions over Syria's military rebuilding, with Israeli officials warning they would not tolerate a rebuilt Syrian air force.
Critics of the strikes
Israel's security position
Escalation vs. security necessity
Critics of the strikes
US envoy Tom Barrack said the confirmed Israeli airstrikes constitute 'an unnecessary escalation that does not advance regional stability' and encouraged all parties to prioritize 'logical discourse over further military incidents.'
Israel's security position
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz issued direct warnings to Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan, saying Israel would not allow steps that strengthened Syria's military capabilities in ways that could pose a threat to Israel.
Stability of Syria's new administration
Critics of the strikes
Turkey accused Israel of trying to destabilise Syria and undermine its new administration; Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan called for international pressure on Israel to respect Syria's territorial integrity.
Israel's security position
Israeli officials expressed alarm about the militant Islamist background of Syria's new rulers and, since Assad's ouster, seized ground in southwest Syria and struck much of the Syrian military's heavy weapons and equipment.
Rebuilding Syria's military
Critics of the strikes
Syria conducted its first air exercises since Assad's ouster in early August using Russian-made MiG-21 jets; Turkey, a main ally of Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa, is helping train Syria's army and rebuild state institutions.
Israel's security position
Israeli security officials told Israel's Kan public broadcaster they detected signs Syria was accelerating efforts to rebuild its air force, including pilot recruitment and flight training, and said Israel is closely monitoring the developments.
- Event
- Eight Israeli airstrikes on Abu al-Duhur Airbase
- Location
- Northwestern Syria, about 70 km from the Turkish border
- Target
- Runway and storage facilities
- Damage and casualties
- Material damage; no casualties
- Date
- Early Tuesday (report dated August 18)
- Base status
- Disused as a dedicated military airfield since 2013; now a training centre for Syria's new army
- US stance
- Strikes called an 'unnecessary escalation'; urged logical discourse over further military incidents
- Israeli response
- No official comment; the Israeli military declined to comment
