The target of the Israeli strike on the airbase in Syria was the Turkish military

The target of the Israeli strike on the Abu Duhur airbase in Syria was the Turkish military. It is reported by Kan News.

On August 18, 2026, the Israeli Air Force launched eight strikes on this airbase in the Syrian province of Idlib. The runway and storage facilities were damaged, there were no casualties.

The reason for the strike is Turkey's attempt to gain a foothold on the base. Israel bluntly stated that the attack was preventing a violation of the "status quo" in Syria, as Damascus was "on the verge of violating" the agreements by allowing Turkish troops to deploy at the airbase.

Turkey and Syria condemned the strikes. The US called them an "unnecessary escalation."

According to Kan News, the strike was carried out only after behind-the-scenes negotiations with President Sharaa failed, and Turkish forces had already arrived at the base.

Israeli officials shared intelligence with the United States about Turkey's plans. A senior American envoy also confirmed that the United States is conducting "quiet discussions" on launching a mechanism to prevent conflicts between Israel and Syria.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that the strikes were preceded by a visit by a Turkish military delegation to the airfield as part of efforts to reactivate it. At the same time, the Turkish official denied preparations for the creation of a military base and the presence of Turkish forces at the facility.

The American ambassador to Turkey, Tom Barrack, noted that the strike carried "a real risk of rapid escalation into a direct military clash between Israel and Turkey," since Turkish forces did not know about the targets of Israeli aviation and could raise their fighters. This highlights the tension of the situation.