United States (US) Special Envoy for Syria Tom Barrack has criticised Israeli air strikes on the Abu al-Duhur military air base, calling the attack an “unnecessary escalation” and expressing deep concern over regional stability.
Barrack defended the Syrian government, stating that the Al-Sharaa administration has not adopted a predatory posture or maintained proxy forces, and has repeatedly indicated a preference for de-escalation with Israel.
He also held Israel responsible for the attack even though Israeli officials had not confirmed involvement by the time the statement was issued following a meeting between Barrack and Syrian Foreign Minister (FM) Asaad al-Shaibani in Istanbul.
The Syrian government condemned the strikes, which hit the runway of the defunct airfield in the early morning hours of Tuesday.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that the bombardment followed a recent visit by a Turkish military delegation to the airfield as part of efforts to reactivate the facility.
Since former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad fled to Russia in December 2024, Israel has targeted military sites along the western border and northern areas of Syria to degrade the Syrian air force.
Israel has also sent ground troops into the United Nations (UN)-operated buffer zone between the two nations, with Israeli officials stating as recently as last week that they plan to keep military forces inside Syrian territory.
Despite the strikes, Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa confirmed last year that the two sides held talks.
Syria and Israel lack formal diplomatic relations. Israel seized the Golan Heights from Syria in 1967 and annexed the territory, though the two countries established a security regime on the border through a disengagement agreement signed under former President Hafez al-Assad.
President Sharaa previously told The Washington Post that the Syrian government chose not to respond to thousands of Israeli strikes because the nation focuses on rebuilding.
Sharaa rejected Israeli claims regarding targets linked to Iranian-backed Shia militants, stating that Syrian forces expelled those groups from the country. He also described the Israeli military advances as driven by expansionist ambitions rather than legitimate security concerns.
Barrack stated that the US previously hosted discussions between the nations and will continue to encourage diplomacy over military action, emphasising that restraint and engagement offer a constructive course for both parties.
