IDLIB — Syrian state TV reported that eight airstrikes hit the runway of the Abu Duhur airbase in the northwestern province of Idlib early Tuesday. The airstrikes caused material damage to the runway but resulted in no casualties, according to Syrian state TV.

The Israeli military did not immediately comment on the attack. Turkish officials did not immediately respond to requests for comment regarding the strikes. The Abu al-Duhur airfield is located approximately 70 kilometers from the Turkish border.

Rebel forces captured the Abu al-Duhur airfield in 2015 following a prolonged siege. Forces loyal to Bashar al-Assad recaptured the Abu al-Duhur airfield in early 2018. Rebel forces recaptured the Abu al-Duhur airfield in November 2024 during an offensive that led to the collapse of the Assad regime.

The government of Bashar al-Assad fell in December 2024 when insurgents entered Damascus. Syria's new government is led by Ahmed al-Sharaa.

Why It Matters

The strike occurred as Turkey rehabilitated the airbase, which had been out of service for years during the Syrian conflict. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights noted that foreign fighters previously stationed at the base were recently asked to leave. This event fits a pattern of Israeli operations targeting Syrian military infrastructure, with hundreds of airstrikes conducted since the fall of the Assad government.

The attack shows the ongoing efforts to degrade Syrian military capabilities, which escalated after the regime change in December 2024. With the new government led by Ahmed al-Sharaa, the response to such incursions remains an open question. The lack of immediate comment from Israeli or Turkish officials leaves the strategic intent and potential diplomatic repercussions unclear.

Timeline

Rebel forces captured the Abu al-Duhur airfield in 2015 following a prolonged siege. On November 3, 2017, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that more than 26 airstrikes by warplanes targeted the Abu Al-Duhur airbase area and other areas in its surroundings, causing material damage but no information about casualties. Forces loyal to Bashar al-Assad recaptured the Abu al-Duhur airfield in early 2018.

Rebel forces recaptured the Abu al-Duhur airfield in November 2024 during an offensive that led to the collapse of the Assad regime. The government of Bashar al-Assad fell in December 2024 when insurgents entered Damascus. Israeli drone strikes on a southern suburb of Damascus last year killed eight soldiers and wounded others. Al Jazeera correspondent Heidi Pett stated: "There is a continuing Israeli campaign to degrade Syrian military capabilities that began under the Assad regime, but it rapidly escalated immediately after its fall." Al Jazeera correspondent Sohaib al-Khalaf stated: "The nature of the attack resembles previous Israeli attacks on Syrian military sites and installations that have aimed to undermine the Syrian military’s capabilities."

What's New

Al Jazeera correspondent Heidi Pett stated: "There is a continuing Israeli campaign to degrade Syrian military capabilities that began under the Assad regime, but it rapidly escalated immediately after its fall." The Syrian state TV reported that eight Israeli airstrikes hit the runway of the Abu Duhur airbase in northwest Syria early Tuesday, causing material damage without inflicting any casualties. On November 3, 2017, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that more than 26 airstrikes by warplanes targeted the Abu Al-Duhur airbase area and other areas in its surroundings, causing material damage but no information about casualties. Al Jazeera correspondent Sohaib al-Khalaf stated: "The nature of the attack resembles previous Israeli attacks on Syrian military sites and installations that have aimed to undermine the Syrian military’s capabilities." Forces loyal to Bashar al-Assad recaptured the Abu al-Duhur airfield in early 2018. Rebel forces recaptured the Abu al-Duhur airfield in November 2024 during an offensive that led to the collapse of the Assad regime. Syria's new government is led by Ahmed al-Sharaa. Al Jazeera correspondent Heidi he stated: "Israel systematically bombed the Syrian air force basically out of existence, and in the last year and a half, there has been an effort to rebuild some of that air capacity."

How Sources Differ

Regarding the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights and the Duhur airbase, desk_web reports that on November 3, 2017, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that more than 26 airstrikes by warplanes targeted the Abu Al-Duhur airbase area and other areas in its surroundings, causing material damage but no information about casualties. In contrast, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights report states that the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights stated that Turkey has been rehabilitating the Abu Duhur airbase, which had been out of service for years during the Syrian conflict.

Regarding the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, desk_web reports that on November 3, 2017, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that more than 26 airstrikes by warplanes targeted the Abu Al-Duhur airbase area and other areas in its surroundings, causing material damage but no information about casualties. Conversely, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights report states that the Syria-based war monitor Syrian Observatory for Human he stated that foreign fighters previously stationed at the base were recently asked to leave.