Review the final output Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani denied any intention to establish a Turkish military base at the Abu al-Duhur airbase—recently struck by Israel—insisting the facility was under rehabilitation for the Syrian Air Force and remained largely inactive. His assertion challenges Israeli claims that Syria was permitting a Turkish military buildup threatening regional security.
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## No Turkish Base, Says Syria
Al-Shaibani told on Wednesday that Damascus had clearly informed Israel there were **no plans to develop Abu al-Duhur into a Turkish military base**. He emphasized:
– There was no intention to set up any permanent Turkish military presence or deploy Turkish forces at that location.
– Turkish military officers visited the airbase solely within the context of **training and military cooperation**, not for establishing a Turkish stronghold.
– The facility remains **largely empty and not yet operational**.
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## Israeli Warning and Justification
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu affirmed that Israel had warned Syria **before the strike** not to allow Turkish forces at the airbase.
– “Our message was very clear. Don’t,” Netanyahu said.
– He suggested that Syria had misunderstood—or ignored—that warning.
According to Israeli officials, allowing Turkish troops to deploy at Abu al-Duhur would violate an existing security status quo with Syria. The government in Jerusalem views such deployment as a **potential threat** it intends to prevent.
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## Details of the Strike
The attack took place early Tuesday August 18, 2026 at the Abu al-Duhur airbase in northwestern Syria.
– Israel carried out **eight airstrikes** targeting the runway and storage facilities.
– State television reported **no casualties**. A military source and a civilian near the base corroborated that.
– The airbase, about 70 km (43.5 miles) from the Turkish border, has been out of operation since 2013 as a military airfield, changing hands during Syria’s civil war.
Since late 2024, the base has served as a **training centre** for Syria’s new army.
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## Tensions with Turkey and Reactions
In Ankara, Turkey rejected Israeli assertions as “untenable allegations.” Turkish officials said the claims regarding deploying troops near its border were false.
Meanwhile, Israel’s Defence Minister Israel Katz accused Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of embarking on “dangerous adventures” in Syria following the strike, warning Turkey against what Israel perceives as efforts to establish a footprint too close to its borders.
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## Syria Presses for De-Escalation
Echoing broader concerns, Al-Shaibani pressed for renewed diplomatic efforts with Israel:
– Assad’s government says it has made “significant progress” toward a security agreement over the past year through U.S.-mediated talks. However, Syria claims Israel retreated from those commitments before implementation.
– Any future agreement, Syria insists, must protect **security interests on both sides** and fully respect Syrian sovereignty. Continued Israeli operations, according to Damascus, risk further destabilizing the region.
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## International and U.S. Involvement
Diplomatic fallout has already begun:
– The U.S. special envoy to Syria and Iraq, Tom Barrack, called the airstrikes an “unnecessary escalation.” Washington is working to establish a **deconfliction mechanism** among Israel, Turkey, and Syria.
– Turkey’s Foreign Ministry condemned the strikes as undermining Syria’s territorial integrity and unity, urging the international community to respond.
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## What Comes Next
The assault at Abu al-Duhur adds a fresh layer to the strategic tensions among Syria, Turkey, and Israel. As damage is assessed and international concern grows, key questions loom:
– Will Damascus and Ankara seek increased military cooperation or reassure Israel?
– Can the U.S. broker a viable agreement that ensures deconfliction and stability?
– Will Israel follow through on threats to respond to what it perceives as new Turkish deployments?
For now, Syria maintains its rehabilitation of the airbase is for its own air force capabilities—not as a staging ground for external powers.
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