Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Al-Shaibani stated on Wednesday that the Israeli military strike on the Abu al-Duhur airbase, which occurred early Tuesday morning, was unjustified. The minister explicitly denied that the Syrian government had been collaborating with Turkey to establish a military installation at the location. According to Al-Shaibani, his government had communicated this position to Israeli officials prior to the attack, yet the strike proceeded regardless.

The incident has introduced new diplomatic friction between regional actors, complicating efforts by the U.S. administration to de-escalate tensions in the area. While the Syrian government maintains that the airbase was not intended for foreign military use, the strike highlights the ongoing volatility regarding foreign military movements within Syrian territory. As of now, Israeli officials have not provided a detailed public response to Al-Shaibani’s specific claims regarding the nature of the base or the prior communications mentioned by the Syrian minister. The situation remains sensitive as international observers monitor whether this escalation will lead to further retaliatory actions or a shift in regional military posture.