The United States special envoy to Syria, Tom Barrack, revealed that Israel did not warn Washington before carrying out airstrikes on a military airbase in northern Syria, a move that risked direct confrontation with NATO ally Turkey.
Barrack, who also serves as US ambassador to Turkey, told the Washington Post that the August 17-18 strikes on Abu al-Duhur airbase near Idlib were conducted without prior notification to American officials. The revelation deepens a diplomatic rift between Washington and Jerusalem over the escalating Israeli military campaign in post-Assad Syria.
The Israeli strikes hit the runway at Abu al-Duhur with eight munitions, damaging infrastructure but causing no casualties, according to Syrian state media. The attack came days after a Turkish military delegation visited the facility as part of efforts to reactivate it, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported.
Tensions With NATO Ally Turkey
Barrack told the Jerusalem Post that the lack of clear communication channels could have made the situation much worse, potentially scrambling Turkish fighter jets and triggering a rapid military escalation. The US was deeply concerned by the strikes, Barrack wrote on X shortly after the attack.
Netanyahu responded by claiming he had warned Turkey before the strike, but Barracks account contradicts this narrative. The US envoy said Washington is currently engaged in quiet discussions with all relevant parties about relaunching a deconfliction cell between Israel and Syria, with Turkey invited as a direct or indirect participant.
Turkey rejected Israeli allegations that it posed a threat by preparing to deploy troops to the base. Turkish Foreign Minister accused Israel of destabilizing the region, while Syrias foreign ministry condemned the strikes as an unjustified act of aggression and called for UN Security Council action.
Broader Regional Implications
The incident highlights the growing friction between Israel and the new Syrian government led by Ahmed al-Sharaa, who relies on Turkish support. Israel has launched hundreds of strikes on Syria since the December 2024 fall of Bashar al-Assad, alarming Ankara and complicating US diplomatic efforts in the region.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, during a recent visit to Damascus, stated that violations of Syrias sovereignty and territorial integrity are unacceptable and must cease, adding that the Golan Heights are Syrian territory.
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