Israeli airstrikes hit Syrian airbase on August 18

Israeli airstrikes targeted the Abu al-Duhur airbase in northwestern Syria on August 18, 2026, marking a significant escalation in regional tensions. The attack, which Syria said damaged runway infrastructure but caused no casualties, drew immediate condemnation from Damascus, Ankara, and the United States, while Israel defended the action as a necessary security measure.

The strikes hit the airbase in Idlib province, located about 70 kilometers from the Turkish border. Syrian state media reported eight strikes targeted the runway and storage facilities. Syria’s Foreign Ministry condemned the attack as an unjustified act of aggression and a violation of its sovereignty, calling on the international community to take a firm stance. Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani stated that Syria had made clear to Israel there were no plans to establish a Turkish military base at the site, which was being rehabilitated for use by the Syrian Air Force.

Israel’s Prime Minister’s Office stated the strike was taken because Syria was “on the verge of breaching” an agreed security status quo by permitting Turkish troops to deploy at the airbase. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu later elaborated,...