The recent aerial strikes on Abu al-Duhur military airport in Idlib, Syria have raised numerous questions, with underlying complexities shedding light on possible answers. While no group has claimed responsibility for the attacks, Israeli fingerprints are evident, potentially suggesting a link to Turkey's strong military presence in Syria.
New reports about Israel's targeted actions in Northern Syria, specifically in the Idlib region near the Turkish border, reveal Turkey’s initial plan to move 200 military personnel to the airport on the same day it was struck. However, due to military developments, the deployment was halted. Turkish media highlighted that military equipment was en route to the airport.
According to Turkish newspaper "Türkiye," extensive reconstruction of Abu al-Duhur airport commenced post the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime. While the Syrian government handled building repairs, Turkey refurbished the runways. Under a bilateral agreement, preparations advanced to deploy air defense systems, drones, and weaponized UAVs at the airport. Following training sessions held in Turkey, all arrangements to move military personnel and equipment to the base were completed.
Without the Israeli strike, over 200 soldiers were meant to be stationed at Abu al-Duhur on August 18, 13 hours after the attacks.
Per the Turkish newspaper, Turkey has considered several precautionary measures, including continuous surveillance and warning systems using AWACS aircraft and intensified fighter jet patrols along the border. Proposed measures also entail defensive protocols to impede Israeli drone activity and joint exercises to enhance defensive cohesion between Syria and Turkey. Looking ahead, closing Syrian airspace to military flights remains one of the protective strategies to counter Israeli attacks.
The Syrian Foreign Minister As'ad al-Shyaibani informed "Axios" that Israel was assured no Turkish military base would be established at the Abu al-Duhur air base.
He added that Turkish military personnel inspected the Northwestern Syrian base days before the strike, underscoring ongoing cooperation in military training and expertise exchange.
Meanwhile, the Turkish Defense Ministry stated no Turkish military delegation was present at the base before or during the raid, and reiterated Turkey’s commitment to support Syria’s military development and infrastructure.
Israel accused Turkey of engaging in "dangerous adventures in Syria," alleging that Syrian authorities were on the verge of permitting Turkish forces to station at Abu al-Duhur, ignoring Israeli warnings that this would threaten its security—an allegation denied by Turkey.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz, in a post on "X", urged Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan against "dragging Turkey into dangerous adventures in Syria" and "testing Israel’s resolve to defend itself."