Trump Angered by Israeli Strike in Syria as Regional Tensions Rise

A recent Israeli airstrike on a military airbase in northern Syria has triggered fresh tensions in the Middle East, with Israel telling the US administration that the operation was aimed at preventing Turkey from expanding its military presence and strategic influence in the area.

The strike has also created new friction between Washington, Tel Aviv and Ankara, with President Donald Trump’s administration expressing concern over the Israeli action.

Israeli forces dropped at least eight bombs on the Abu al-Duhur airbase in northern Syria early Tuesday. The base, located about 45 miles from the Turkish border, sustained heavy damage to a recently constructed runway. No casualties were reported.

Israel initially denied carrying out the strike and imposed military censorship on reports about the incident. The attack was later disclosed on social media by Tom Barrack, the US envoy for Syria and ambassador to Turkey, who described it as an “unnecessary military escalation” and expressed deep concern.

Around 20 hours after the attack, the Israeli prime minister’s office formally acknowledged responsibility. In a statement posted on X, it claimed Syria was on the verge of violating an agreement by allowing Turkish forces to deploy at an airbase near Aleppo. Israel said Syria had been warned repeatedly but had ignored those warnings, adding that it would not tolerate what it considers a threat to its security.

A Syrian government source, however, said Damascus had already informed Israel that the runway renovation had no hostile intent. A Turkish official also said there were no Turkish troops at the airbase when the strike took place. The official accused Israel of repeatedly using what he described as unfounded justifications to carry out attacks in neighbouring countries and destabilise the region.

Both Syria and Turkey condemned the Israeli strike.

According to US officials, Trump views efforts to build relations with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa’s government as a significant diplomatic achievement and also maintains close ties with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The Israeli strike has therefore caused frustration and concern among senior White House officials, although the episode has also highlighted the administration’s reluctance to take tougher action against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Several senior US officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, believe Netanyahu’s government may have been motivated in part by political considerations ahead of Israel’s October election. They said the Syrian government had for some time sought greater coordination with Washington and Tel Aviv, including the establishment of a joint coordination mechanism, but Israel had not agreed and had instead expanded its military activity in Syria.

As tensions mount, Syrian authorities are increasingly considering measures they describe as necessary for self-defence. The Trump administration has urged Damascus to exercise restraint for now, while officials believe a lasting solution may become easier to pursue after the Israeli election.