Syria says no Turkish military build-up planned at airbase struck by Israel

Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani said there were no plans to establish a Turkish military base at Abu al-Duhur airbase, which was struck by Israel. According to al-Shaibani, Turkish military officers had visited the base as part of training and broader military cooperation, but there was no intention to establish a permanent Turkish military presence there. The airbase was being rehabilitated for use by the Syrian Air Force.

The Israeli airstrike on the airbase in Idlib province was carried out after Israel accused Damascus of violating an agreement by accepting Turkish troops on it. Israel's army chief, Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir, said the military would not allow hostile forces to establish themselves on Israel's borders and would use its operational capabilities precisely where and when needed.

Al-Shaibani claimed that the airbase was largely empty at the time of the strikes. He also said he had made this clear to Israel, and that a conversation had taken place between him and Israel's Mossad chief, Roman Gofman, on August 14, about Turkish military activity in Syria, according to Ajel English and Jerusalem Post.

Brief written by urgent.news from Al-Monitor, Ajel English, Free Malaysia Today, Jerusalem Post — 4 reports on this story. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.