Trump-Bibi tensions deepen? US officials frustrated by Israel’s Syria strikes: Report

US officials are expressing frustration over Israel's recent airstrikes on a Syrian airbase, revealing strained relations between US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Axios reported these tensions, citing US and Israeli officials.

The airstrikes on the Abu al-Duhur airbase in northwestern Syria occurred as the Trump administration sought to bolster ties with Syria's government under President Ahmed al-Sharaa. Israel claimed the operation aimed to deter Turkey from supplying weapons to the base and prevent further military buildup. The strikes, conducted early Tuesday, caused damage but no casualties.

Israeli officials stated that Damascus had breached an agreed security status quo by allowing Turkish troops to deploy at the base. They warned Syria against such a deployment, which Israel deemed a threat to its security. Syria ignored these warnings, Israel said.

Turkey dismissed Israel's justification, asserting no Turkish presence at the base. Israel is accused of inventing pretexts to bomb neighboring countries and destabilize the region by a Turkish official.

US Special Presidential Envoy for Syria and Iraq, Tom Barrack, criticized the strikes as unnecessary escalation that does not advance regional stability. Senior US officials believe Netanyahu's decision may have been influenced by Israel's October election. Syria had sought a security arrangement with US and Israel for months but Israel refused, increasing military incursions into southern Syria instead.