Damascus blames Israel for airstrikes on military airport in northwest Syria

Syrian state media reported that the runway of the Abu Duhur military airport in the northwest of the country was targeted by airstrikes overnight on Monday. Damascus blamed Israel for the attack, stating that eight strikes hit the facility, causing material damage to infrastructure but no casualties. Israel has not officially commented on the reports. The Abu Duhur airport, located 70 kilometers from the Turkish border, has been used as a training center for Syria’s new army since the ouster of the Bashar al-Assad regime in late 2024. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights noted that the strikes followed a visit by a Turkish military delegation to the airfield as part of efforts to reactivate it. Media reports indicate that Israel has been closely monitoring Syria's efforts to rebuild its air force and has shared its concerns regarding these developments with the United States.