Riyadh/Damascus: Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani said Damascus had clearly informed Israel that Syria and Turkey were not planning to establish a Turkish military base or permanent Turkish military presence at the Abu al-Duhur airbase in northwestern Syria.
Speaking to U.S. news website Axios, Shaibani said Israel nevertheless carried out strikes on the facility despite having been informed about the nature of the activities taking place there.
According to the Syrian foreign minister, the work at Abu al-Duhur was focused on rehabilitating airport infrastructure damaged during the war, with the aim of eventually allowing the Syrian Air Force to use the facility.
Syria Rejects Israeli Justification
Shaibani said there was no Turkish military deployment at the airbase that could have been cited as justification for the attack.
He also said the facility was largely empty when it was struck and remained under rehabilitation rather than operating as a fully active military installation.
The Syrian government therefore disputes Israel's explanation that the strikes were connected to Turkish military activity at the base.
Turkish Officers Had Visited the Site
Shaibani acknowledged that Turkish military officers had visited Abu al-Duhur shortly before the Israeli strikes.
However, he said the visit was part of ongoing military cooperation involving training and the exchange of expertise.
He stressed that Syria is rebuilding its military and civilian institutions and is working with several countries through training and cooperation programmes. According to Shaibani, such cooperation is not limited to Turkey.
The Syrian foreign minister also emphasised that Syria is a sovereign state and has the right to establish cooperative and partnership-based relationships with other countries.
Damascus and Tel Aviv Were in Contact
Shaibani said communication channels between Damascus and Tel Aviv had remained open in the days before the attack.
According to him, Syrian officials had informed Israel about the activities taking place at Abu al-Duhur and made clear that the facility would remain under Syrian sovereignty and control.
He added that the Syrian government contacted the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump both before and after the strikes in an effort to prevent further escalation and limit the consequences of the attack.
Syria Still Open to Security Understanding
Despite the latest confrontation, Shaibani said Damascus remains prepared to pursue a security understanding with Israel aimed at reducing tensions.
He argued, however, that lasting stability would require commitments from both sides, respect for Syria's sovereignty and recognition of its security concerns.
According to the Syrian position, a political settlement remains the most sustainable route towards peace and stability in the region.
Eight Airstrikes Reported
Syria said on Tuesday that Israel carried out eight airstrikes against Abu al-Duhur airbase.
The strikes reportedly targeted the runway and storage facilities at the site, which is located approximately 70 kilometres east of the Turkish border.
Israel has presented a different account.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said Damascus had been approaching a violation of an existing security arrangement with Israel by allowing Turkish troops to be deployed at the facility.
Israel has previously warned Syria against allowing Turkish military personnel or equipment to be positioned at locations close to the Israeli border, arguing that such deployments could create a security threat.
U.S.-Backed Deconfliction Talks
U.S. Special Envoy for Syria Tom Barrack has said discussions are continuing on reactivating a deconfliction and communication mechanism between Israel and Syria designed to prevent military confrontation.
Barrack also indicated that Turkey could potentially participate in the mechanism either directly or indirectly.
According to his remarks, several rounds of discussions have taken place between the Syrian government of President Ahmed al-Sharaa and senior Israeli officials. The talks have focused on border arrangements and reducing the risk of further escalation.
The latest discussions reportedly included proposals for joint economic initiatives and a mechanism to prevent military confrontation between Syria and Israel, with Jordan proposed as the location for the mechanism.
Barrack said the Syrian government had made clear that it had no offensive intentions towards Israel and that its objective was to protect Syria's sovereignty.
Israel's Concerns Over Turkish Military Presence
Israel has increasingly expressed concern about Turkish military personnel and equipment being deployed at Syrian military facilities, particularly locations considered strategically sensitive because of their proximity to Israel.
Israeli officials have also previously raised concerns over the reported installation of a Turkish HTRS-100 radar system at Damascus International Airport.
According to the concerns cited in the report, the system could track aerial targets at distances of approximately 150 to 200 kilometres, potentially affecting the freedom of movement of Israeli aircraft operating in Syrian airspace.
The dispute over Abu al-Duhur therefore forms part of a broader and increasingly complicated strategic contest involving Syria, Israel, Turkey and the United States.
For Damascus, the issue is ultimately about sovereignty and rebuilding a state damaged by years of war.
For Israel, the central concern remains the emergence of military capabilities or foreign forces in Syria that could alter the regional security balance.
The challenge for Washington and regional mediators will be to prevent those competing security calculations from turning into another cycle of escalation.
Editorial Source Note
Source: Al Arabiya, based on remarks by Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani to Axios and statements attributed to Israeli, Syrian, Turkish and U.S. officials. Claims regarding the purpose and circumstances of the strikes are attributed to the respective parties
— AALIMI NATION | International Desk
