Israeli forces struck the Abu al-Duhur airbase in Syria and, days later, targeted a vehicle near Beit Jinn in the country's southwest, as Syrian and Israeli officials opened a US-mediated diplomatic channel in Jordan to address the resulting tensions [3][4][6]. The talks, confirmed by Syria's government, focused on mechanisms to halt Israeli strikes and revive negotiations toward a security agreement [6][13].
Israel framed the Abu al-Duhur strike as a defensive measure based on intelligence showing Turkey planned to deploy drones and radar systems at the base [3][5]. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that Israel and Syria had agreed to a security status quo that Syria was "on the verge of breaching" by permitting Turkish troops to deploy, and his office said Turkish soldiers were "trying to settle at the base" [4][18]. Defense Minister Israel Katz said the strikes responded to "clear intelligence" about Turkey's intentions [4][7]. The Israeli military described the Beit Jinn strike as targeting a "terrorist" in the final stages of preparing attacks [4][7]. Army chief Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir told troops that "we will not allow hostile forces to establish themselves on our borders" [7].
Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani denied any plan for a Turkish base, stating there was "no intention to establish a Turkish base there, nor to establish a permanent Turkish military presence or deploy Turkish forces at the site" [3][23]. He acknowledged Turkish officers visited the airbase for routine training cooperation [14][16]. Syria's foreign ministry called the Beit Jinn strike a "flagrant violation" of sovereignty and described the targeted vehicle as civilian [5][7], and UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric stated that "these airstrikes must cease" [34]. Twelve Arab and Muslim-majority states including Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey condemned the attack [35]. Ankara denied any visit to the site and rejected Israel's suggestion that Turkey posed a threat [4][7].
US envoy Tom Barrack called the Abu al-Duhur strike an "unnecessary escalation that does not advance regional stability" and suggested it could be "the Israelis baiting the Turks" ahead of Israeli elections [4][7]. Barrack later stated that US agencies concluded the intelligence about Turkish military movements was wrong [18]. He accused Israel of giving no warning before the strikes [16] and warned the attack could trigger direct military conflict between Israel and Turkey [10]. Katz rebutted that Barrack's comments were "full of inaccuracies and positions that contradict the stance of US President Trump" on the Golan Heights and insisted Israel had shared intelligence with authorized US parties before the strike [7][15][16].
Despite the strikes, al-Shaibani and Mossad director Roman Gofman met to lower tensions [3]. US-mediated talks followed in Jordan, where the Syrian delegation stressed Israeli withdrawal to pre-December 2024 lines and full restoration of the 1974 disengagement agreement as priorities [6][13]. The talks also addressed bringing Turkish and Israeli positions closer together [21]. Al-Shaibani said the two sides had agreed on paper to "almost everything" earlier in the year, including security zones and a UN buffer zone, but that Damascus doubts Israel's willingness to implement [6]. He stated: "We do not trust Israel at present. We deal with it through our interactions, but there is currently no trust" [22]. President Ahmed al-Sharaa said Damascus was working with several countries to reach a security agreement that could pave the way for comprehensive peace without relinquishing the Golan Heights claim [2].
Israeli opposition politicians accused Netanyahu of using the strikes for electoral advantage. Democrats party leader Yair Golan said "military force is once again being used for political considerations" and warned the strike risks confrontation with Turkey [24][25]. Former Prime Minister Ehud Barak described the government's posture as "reckless and stupid," saying it "strongly reeks of a political motive to go into elections with security tensions" [25]. A Haaretz editorial questioned whether anyone had considered the costs of a war with NATO-member Turkey [10].
Turkish analysts argued Ankara is pursuing restraint rather than confrontation. Canan Tercan of Istanbul Aydin University stated that "Türkiye's presence in Syria for training purposes is entirely at the request of the Syrian government" and that Ankara has no territorial ambitions [5]. Omer Behram Ozdemir of Ibn Haldun University said Ankara is likely to maintain restraint and focus on long-term institutional rebuilding in Syria [5]. Turkey's Communications Directorate described Israeli statements targeting President Erdogan as "outrageous ravings" and accused Netanyahu's government of using "cheap politics" for electoral gain [5]. Turkey also requested an Interpol Red Notice for Netanyahu in connection with a criminal case over the interception of activists aboard the Global Sumud Flotilla [5][7].
On a separate front, Netanyahu's office and Defense Minister Katz threatened to step up targeted killings of those responsible and evacuate Palestinian communities in Gaza if kite, balloon, and drone launches toward Israel do not cease [8][17]. Gaza's Ministry of Health reported that 1,285 Palestinians have been killed since the October 2025 ceasefire, with the overall toll since October 2023 reaching 73,419 [1]. A displaced Palestinian in Gaza said "No hay alto el fuego, no hay nada" (There is no ceasefire, nothing) [8]. Hamas spokesperson Basem Naim said children fly kites to "recover something of their childhood among the rubble" [8]. A peace-monitoring body stated that "now it is up to Hamas to demonstrate whether it really intends to comply" [8]. In the West Bank, the Palestine Red Crescent Society reported treating civilians, including children, for tear gas inhalation during Israeli raids and a teenager beaten by settlers [19].
Over 100 former British and French diplomats accused Israel of ethnic cleansing, warning that "Palestine is being erased in front of the world's eyes" and calling for trade and arms bans [9]. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas called Israeli settlement expansion in the E1 zone illegal under international law [11], and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen described the plans as "unacceptable" [11]. UK Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband described settlement tenders as "a destructive threat to the viability of a two-state solution" [9]. A group of eight Muslim-majority states including the United Arab Emirates said Israel's actions "fundamentally undermine the collective efforts undertaken to achieve a just and lasting peace" [9]. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar rejected the criticism, stating that "Jewish people have a right to live throughout Israel just as British people have a right to live throughout the UK" [9].
Barrack said the US is working on a mechanism to prevent friction between Israel, Turkey, and Syria [26]. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights documented 57 Israeli attacks on Syrian territory since the beginning of 2026 [5]. Al-Shaibani expressed expectation that security negotiations with Israel will resume soon despite the lack of trust between the parties [6].