Shafaq News- Damascus

Syria and Israel held high-level contacts on Sunday as the two sides sought to ease tensions following an Israeli strike on the Abu al-Duhur air base, Axios reported.

Citing sources familiar with the matter, the outlet detailed a meeting between Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani and Mossad chief Roman Gofman. No further details were disclosed.

The Israeli prime minister's office declined to comment, while a spokesperson for al-Shaibani did not immediately respond to a request for clarification.

Israeli aircraft struck the Abu al-Duhur air base in Idlib province in northwestern Syria early Tuesday, hitting the runway and storage areas. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu cited concerns that the Syrian government was close to allowing Turkish troops to deploy at the base, despite repeated Israeli warnings that such a move would threaten Israel's security.

Turkiye, meanwhile, condemned the attack and denied that any Turkish military personnel were present at the facility when it was struck.

Al-Shaibani also rejected the idea that the site was being prepared for a Turkish military presence, explaining that there had been no plan to establish a Turkish base, maintain a permanent Turkish military presence or deploy Turkish forces there.

He said that work at the air base was limited to restoring facilities damaged during the war for use by the Syrian Air Force, adding that the facility was largely empty when the Israeli aircraft arrived.