Turkey looks to expand Syria energy footprint into oil, gas

U.S. envoy Thomas Barrack cautioned Israel on Tuesday eveninng that recent Israeli strikes in Syria, which were allegedly conducted by Israel, could "increase Turkish presence at that base" in the near future. Barrack stated in an interview with Reuters that Turkey had not been given prior notice, thus potentially leading to a retaliatory attack against Israel.

Reports also surfaced on Tuesday evening indicating artillery fire near a village in Daraa. Barrack emphasized the need for a deconfliction mechanism to prevent future miscommunication among Israel, Syria, and Turkey, adding that the priority is to reduce tensions and facilitate a more measured approach.

Earlier, Barrack criticized Israel, expressing deep concern that the reported Israeli airstrikes on Abu al-Duhur Airbase constituted an unnecessary escalation. Shortly after, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office issued a statement confirming the attack, acknowledging that Israel and Syria had agreed on a status quo in security matters, which Syria nearly violated by allowing Turkish soldiers to deploy at the air force base near Aleppo.

Israel had previously warned Syria against such deployment, which Syria disregarded, leading to the Israeli attack.

The Abu al-Duhur military airport in eastern Idlib, Syria, was targeted, with runways and storage facilities hit by four aircraft. No casualties were reported. Israeli sources claim the strikes occurred after a Turkish military delegation visited to oversee the base's rehabilitation. Abu al-Duhur is located near the village of Abu al-Duhur, crucially situated between Idlib, Hama, and Aleppo provinces, and is considered a significant military base in northern Syria.

Reports suggest the base covers an area of 16 to 23 square kilometers and includes multiple runways.

Israel's concern appears to stem from the base's potential to undermine its air superiority, especially amid ongoing tensions with Iran. Intelligence from Israel was reportedly shared with the U.S. regarding Syria's efforts to rehabilitate the base. Israel's decision to strike may have been driven by strategic considerations akin to a strike on the same airfield in April 2025, where Israel intended to draw a line in the sand with Turkey.

The Turkish delegation's recent visit to the base has raised further concerns about Turkey's intentions and the broader implications for regional security.