Israel Strikes Abu al-Duhur Airbase in Idlib, Citing Turkish Deployment

Israeli warplanes carried out eight airstrikes early on August 18, 2026 against the disused Abu al-Duhur military airbase in eastern Idlib province, hitting the runway and storage/hangar facilities undergoing refurbishment. No casualties were reported. Israel said the strikes were preventive, accusing Syria of breaching an informal security 'status quo' by allowing Turkish forces to prepare to deploy air-defense systems and drones at the base, located roughly 45 miles from the Turkish border. Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani rejected any security justification and said Damascus would pursue a diplomatic response; Turkey's presidency called Israel's claims 'frivolous' pretexts to justify strikes on Syrian sovereignty. US Special Envoy Tom Barrack called the strikes an 'unnecessary escalation.'