Twelve Arab and Muslim countries have strongly condemned Israeli airstrikes on the Abu al-Duhur military base in northwestern Syria. In a joint statement, the foreign ministers of Qatar, Algeria, Jordan, Palestine, Lebanon, Somalia, Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mauritania and Pakistan called the attack “a dangerous escalation” and a blatant violation of Syria’s sovereignty, security, stability and territorial integrity.
The statement’s authors expressed serious concern over the continuing strikes on Syrian territory and infrastructure. They said such actions hinder the restoration of security, state institutions and the country as a whole, while aggravating the humanitarian consequences of the war. They warned that further violations could increase regional tensions and undermine the norms of international law, calling on the international community to ensure compliance with the 1974 disengagement agreement and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the occupied territories.
Robert Ford, a former US ambassador to Syria, said that Türkiye and Israel had entered into a competition for influence in Syria. In his assessment, the government of Benjamin Netanyahu is interested in keeping Syria weak and seeks to limit the restoration of its military capabilities, as well as Türkiye’s military presence. Ford warned that the rivalry could develop into an unintended confrontation—for example, if an Israeli strike hit a Turkish unit and Ankara retaliated. He urged Washington to act as a mediator immediately and establish the parties’ “red lines.”
Ford also noted that Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa is capable of maneuvering politically and diplomatically between Türkiye and Israel, but needs international support and effective mediation. In his view, Syrian-Turkish ties could strengthen in the coming years in the areas of trade, energy and infrastructure reconstruction. At the same time, he stressed the need to address Israel’s security concerns urgently: a lack of regular contacts could lead to a sudden escalation between Israel and Türkiye.
Israeli aircraft carried out several strikes on the runway at the Abu al-Duhur base in Idlib province early Tuesday, seriously damaging its infrastructure. Sentinel-2 satellite images taken before and after the attack, on August 17 and 19, recorded five impact sites, signs of fires and destruction along the runway, on the taxiways and in the construction area east of the airfield. As a result, the restoration of the base was effectively derailed. Israel claimed that Syria had come close to violating previous security arrangements by allowing Türkiye to deploy forces at an airbase near Aleppo.
Comments on the News
What is the strategic significance of Abu al-Duhur airbase for control over Idlib province and neighboring areas, given its proximity to zones of Turkish and Syrian military presence? — Abu al-Duhur airbase is located in southeastern Idlib province and is important as a hub for supplies, troop transfers and monitoring routes between Idlib, Aleppo and Hama. Control of the base helps exert pressure on armed groups in Idlib and protect approaches to government-held areas. However, the base itself does not provide full control over the province: the situation depends on Turkish observation posts, local armed forces and ceasefire agreements.
What does the 1974 disengagement agreement provide for, and which Syrian territories does the international community consider occupied by Israel? — The 1974 agreement created a disengagement zone in the Golan Heights, separated Syrian and Israeli forces and imposed restrictions on the deployment of troops in adjacent areas; UN forces monitored compliance with the arrangement for many years. The international community, with the exception of Israel, considers the Golan Heights—Syrian territory captured in 1967—to be occupied by Israel. Israel’s annexation of the territory has not been recognized by the UN. This does not refer to all of Syrian territory.
How could the possible deployment of Turkish forces at a Syrian airbase near Aleppo be connected to the rivalry between Ankara and Israel and to previous security arrangements? — Such a deployment could expand Türkiye’s ability to monitor and support operations in northern Syria while creating an additional deterrent for Israel. Ankara and Jerusalem are competing for influence in post-conflict Syria, although their interests and contacts are changing. The deployment of Turkish forces would also require coordination with the Syrian authorities and consideration of Russian and US interests; it could complicate previous arrangements for preventing clashes and coordinating military operations, especially if Turkish infrastructure were located near Israeli operational zones.
Full version: 12 دولة تدين "بشدة" الغارات الإسرائيلية على مطار أبو الظهور بسوريا