10+ nations slam Israel over Syrian base strike
Shafaq News- Damascus
Foreign ministers from 12 countries on Friday condemned an Israeli strike on Syria's Abu al-Duhur military air base, warning that the attack could deepen regional tensions and undermine efforts to stabilize the country.
In a joint statement, the foreign ministers of Turkiye, Algeria, Indonesia, Jordan, Lebanon, Malaysia, Mauritania, Pakistan, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Somalia described the strike as a violation of Syria's sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The ministers also urged the international community to take practical steps under international law to prevent further violations and ensure respect for the 1974 Disengagement of Forces Agreement between Syria and Israel.
Joint Statement The Foreign Ministers of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria, the Republic of Indonesia, the Lebanese Republic, Malaysia, the Islamic Republic of Mauritania, the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, the State of Palestine, the… pic.twitter.com/6N5WNeF8gZ
— وزارة الخارجية وشؤون المغتربين الأردنية (@ForeignMinistry) August 21, 2026
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.
Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad 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 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.
Tom Barrack, the US special envoy for Syria and ambassador to Turkiye, described the Israeli operation as an unnecessary escalation that did little to advance regional stability.
