Archive · 20 Aug 2026
Netanyahu Says Israel Struck Syrian Base To Warn Turkey
Israel and Turkey were discussing a possible Turkish military presence at a Syrian airfield near Aleppo.
Israel said it did not want Turkey to establish a base there.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel first gave Turkey a general warning.
He said Israel later made the warning clearer because it seemed not to have been understood.
The clearer message was apparently an Israeli strike on the Abu al-Duhur airbase.
The strike damaged the base, but no deaths were reported.
Turkey condemned the attack and disagreed with Israel’s explanation.
A U.S. envoy also blamed Israel and called the strike an unnecessary escalation.
Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel struck a Syrian airfield near Aleppo to warn Turkey against establishing a military presence there.
Netanyahu said Israel had first objected to the proposed Turkish presence in general terms, then issued a clearer message after the warning was apparently ignored.
The strike targeted the Abu al-Duhur airbase in northwestern Syria, damaging the facility but causing no reported casualties.
Israel had not explicitly claimed responsibility before Netanyahu’s comments, while U.S. Ambassador Tom Barrack attributed the attack to Israel.
Turkey condemned the strikes and rejected Israel’s justification, while Barrack called the attack an “unnecessary escalation.”
- Who
- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel, Turkey, Syria, U.S. Ambassador to Turkey Tom Barrack, and Turkish and U.S. officials.
- What
- Israel reportedly struck the Abu al-Duhur airbase to warn Turkey against establishing a military presence in Syria.
- When
- The strike occurred on Tuesday, and Netanyahu discussed it on Wednesday.
- Where
- At the Abu al-Duhur airbase near Aleppo in northwestern Syria, close to the Turkish border.
- Why
- Netanyahu said a Turkish military entrenchment moving southward would threaten Israel.
Israel’s Security Position
Turkish and U.S. Criticism
Reason for the attack
Israel’s Security Position
Netanyahu said a Turkish military presence moving southward in Syria would threaten Israel and that the strike followed an earlier warning.
Turkish and U.S. Criticism
Turkey rejected Israel’s justification for the attack, while Tom Barrack condemned it as an unnecessary escalation.
Responsibility for the strike
Israel’s Security Position
Netanyahu effectively acknowledged that Israel carried out the strike, although Israel had not explicitly claimed responsibility beforehand.
Turkish and U.S. Criticism
Barrack publicly attributed the attack to Israel and criticized the action.
Military presence in Syria
Israel’s Security Position
Israel opposed Turkey establishing a military presence at the Syrian airfield near Aleppo.
Turkish and U.S. Criticism
Turkey condemned Israel’s strikes and accused Netanyahu of pursuing destabilizing policies in the region.
- Target
- The strike targeted the Abu al-Duhur airbase in northwestern Syria.
- Reported damage
- The strike damaged the Syrian airbase, with no reported casualties.
- Israeli position
- Netanyahu said Israel would not tolerate a Turkish military entrenchment moving southward.
- Warnings
- Netanyahu said Israel initially objected in general terms before issuing a clearer warning.
- Prior Israeli statement
- Israel’s government had stopped short of explicitly claiming responsibility before Netanyahu’s comments.
- U.S. response
- Tom Barrack blamed Israel and called the strike an “unnecessary escalation.”
- Turkish response
- Turkey condemned the strikes and rejected Israel’s justification.
