Israeli strikes hit an air base hours after a Turkish delegation visit, Syrian officials say

DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) — Syrian officials stated that a Turkish delegation had examined a northern Syrian air base the day prior to it being struck by Israeli airstrikes. The Israeli attacks occurred early Tuesday, shortly after the delegation had departed, inflicting damage but causing no fatalities. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office declared that the strikes were due to Syria's perceived "near violation" of a security status quo by permitting Turkish troops to operate at the air base.

Two unnamed Syrian officials, speaking anonymously due to lacking authorization for public comments, confirmed the Turkish delegation's visit to the Abu Duhur base in the northwestern Idlib province for a review of ongoing rehabilitation efforts. Turkish and Syrian officials have not publicly confirmed the Turkish delegation's presence, but Turkey's communications directorate strongly condemned the attack, accusing Netanyahu of making "untenable allegations" aimed at legitimizing Israel's unlawful airstrike on Syrian territory.

The Abu Duhur air base, situated near the borders of Idlib, Aleppo, and Hama provinces, has historically been utilized by MiG-23, MiG-21, and L-39 aircraft when under Syrian control. Turkey has been aiding Syria's rearmament efforts through military training, equipment provision, and logistical support. The base's strategic location and the Turkish-Syrian military cooperation agreement signed last year have further heightened tensions with Israel.

Israel's suspicion of the new Syrian leadership, led by former Islamist insurgents, has persisted, and Netanyahu has remained wary of potential regional conflicts. The Israeli military's presence in a U.N.-patrolled buffer zone in southern Syria has also exacerbated the strained relations between Turkey and Israel, with both nations vying for influence in the neighboring country.