US calls Israeli strike on Syrian air base 'unnecessary escalation'

The United States has strongly condemned Israeli airstrikes on a Syrian air base, labeling the action an "unnecessary escalation" and asserting that the new Syrian government poses no threat. The strikes reportedly hit the Abu al-Duhur base in northwestern Syria, approximately 70 kilometers from the Turkish border, according to Syrian state television.

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The Al-Sharra government has neither adopted a predatory posture nor maintained proxy forces. It has, in fact, repeatedly indicated a preference for de-escalation with Israel.

Syrian state media reported that the base's runway and storage facilities were targeted. The Israeli military has not yet issued a comment on the incident. Syria's foreign ministry denounced the attacks as an "unjustified act of aggression, a flagrant violation of Syria's sovereignty and territorial integrity, and a dangerous escalation that threatens security and stability in the region."

The Syrian government stated it has exercised restraint and worked to consolidate stability, despite facing repeated attacks since the fall of the former Assad regime in December 2024. This stance was echoed by the U.S. Ambassador to Turkiye and special envoy for Syria and Iraq, Tom Barrack, who noted on X that the Al-Sharra government has shown a preference for de-escalation with Israel.

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The Syrian state has exercised restraint and worked to consolidate stability and avoid escalation with Israel, despite coming under repeated attacks since early December 2024, when the former Assad regime was toppled.

Barrack urged countries to "prioritize logical discourse over further military incidents." The Israeli administration under Benjamin Netanyahu has expressed significant concerns regarding the new Syrian government led by Ahmed Al-Sharaa, citing his past and alleged ties to extremist ideology. These concerns have driven Israel's security measures, including incursions into southwestern Syria beyond the occupied Golan Heights. This approach has created friction with the United States, particularly the Trump White House, which has fostered closer ties with the new Syrian leadership, including lifting economic sanctions and extending invitations to the White House.

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unjustified act of aggression, a flagrant violation of Syria's sovereignty and territorial integrity, and a dangerous escalation that threatens security and stability in the region