Israeli airstrikes hit Syrian airbase, US envoy concerned over escalation

The base, about 70 kilometres from the Turkish border, has been out of service as a dedicated military airfield since 2013 and changed hands a number of times during Syria’s 14-year civil war between forces loyal to former president Bashar al-Assad and opposition factions.

Since Assad was ousted in late 2024, the base has been used as a training centre for Syria’s new army, according to the military source.

As Israeli officials expressed alarm concerning the background of Syria’s new rulers, in the months after Assad was toppled, Israel seized ground in southwest Syria and struck much of the Syrian military’s heavy weapons and equipment.

Security tensions heightened

The strikes follow a heightening of security tensions between Israel and Turkiye, and increasingly sharp rhetoric between the two countries over Syria.

Turkiye, which has Nato’s second-largest army, has become one of Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa’s main allies. It has been training Syria’s army, helping it rebuild its state institutions and infrastructure, and providing military and diplomatic support.

It was not immediately clear whether Turkiye was involved in renovating the base, but Ankara has said it was helping Damascus nationwide.

Ankara has accused Tel Aviv of trying to destabilise Syria and undermine its new administration. Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said on August 6 that Israel continued to threaten Syria’s security through its repeated attacks, calling for international pressure on Israel to respect Syria’s territorial integrity.

Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz, for his part, has issued direct warnings to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, saying Israel would not allow steps that strengthened Syria’s military capabilities in ways that could pose a threat to Israel.

Syria conducted air exercises in the north of the country in early August using Russian-made MiG-21 fighter jets, the first such exercises since Assad’s ouster.

Israel’s Kan public broadcaster reported on August 11 that Israeli security office-holders had detected signs that Syria was accelerating efforts to rebuild its air force, including the recruitment of new pilots, flight training and a first exercise involving fighter aircraft.

Kan quoted an Israeli security source as saying Israel was closely monitoring the developments and had shared its concerns with the United States.