Turkey has rejected Israeli claims that it is preparing to deploy troops to Syria, following Israeli airstrikes on the Abu Duhur airbase in Idlib province.
Israel accused Ankara of posing a “threat” to its security, claiming that Turkey was planning to send troops to the airbase, which is currently being rebuilt.
Although Israel did not officially claim responsibility for the attack, the United States attributed the strikes to Israel and condemned the operation.
“Israel repeatedly warned Syria that such a deployment would pose a threat to Israel’s security. Syria chose to ignore these warnings,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said.
Ankara, however, categorically denied that it was planning to deploy troops to Syria.
According to a statement by the Turkish government cited by Anadolu, the Israeli allegations are “baseless” and intended to justify the airstrikes.
“The baseless allegations by the office of the Israeli prime minister are intended to legitimise Israel’s illegal airstrikes, which undermine Syria’s national sovereignty and territorial integrity,” the Turkish side said.
US expresses concern over strikes
Washington expressed strong concern over the Israeli operation.
US Ambassador to Turkey and White House Special Envoy for Syria Tom Barrack referred to “confirmed Israeli airstrikes” against the Abu Duhur base.
He said the US was “deeply concerned”, describing the attack as “unnecessary escalation that does not advance regional stability”.
Syrian state television reported that Israeli aircraft carried out eight strikes on the base, causing material damage but no reported casualties.
Damascus also strongly condemned the attack, describing it as unjustified.
Turkish military delegation visited base
The Abu Duhur airbase suffered extensive damage during the Syrian civil war and stopped operating in 2012. It is currently guarded by forces from Syria’s Ministry of Defence.
According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, the Israeli strikes came after a Turkish military delegation visited the airport in recent days as part of efforts to reopen the facility.
The reports come as Turkey has strengthened its ties with the new authorities in Damascus, who took power after Bashar al-Assad was overthrown in December 2024.
Hundreds of Israeli strikes since Assad’s fall
Since Assad’s overthrow, the Israeli Air Force has carried out hundreds of strikes in Syria.
Israeli forces have also deployed in the UN-monitored buffer zone in the Golan Heights. Israel announced the creation of a “security zone” and said it did not intend to withdraw.
Syria’s new authorities have repeatedly condemned Israeli operations and called for Israeli forces to withdraw from Syrian territory.
Despite the tensions, Israel and Syria have held several rounds of direct talks, including an agreement to establish an intelligence-sharing mechanism.
The Abu Duhur base came under the control of Damascus’ new authorities after they seized power in December 2024. It had previously been controlled by forces loyal to Bashar al-Assad.
Meanwhile, Syria’s new leadership is cooperating with the US-led international coalition in the fight against Islamic State remnants that remain active in the country.
Damascus has also announced the arrest of a senior member of the jihadist organisation in northern Syria.
Also read: Iran weighs strikes on US targets in Europe – Cyprus on the radar
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