The United States on Tuesday rebuked Israel over airstrikes on a Syrian airbase Turkey was reportedly helping restore, warning the attack risked destabilizing the region.

US Ambassador to Turkey and Special Envoy for Syria Tom Barrack called the strikes on Abu al-Duhur Airbase an “unnecessary escalation” and urged dialogue. He said President Ahmed al-Sharaa’s government had sought de-escalation with Israel.

Eight Israeli strikes hit the runway and storage facilities Tuesday, causing damage but no casualties, Syrian state media said.

Syria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates condemned the strikes as an “unjustified act of aggression” and a violation of Syrian sovereignty, accusing Israel of threatening regional stability.

The base lies in Idlib province, 70 kilometers from the Turkish border. A Turkish military delegation inspected it on Monday before runway repairs, The New Arab reported. Turkish vehicles were parked there during the attack.

Turkey has become one of Damascus’s allies since rebels led by al-Sharaa ousted president Bashar al-Assad in December 2024. Ankara is training Syria’s army and helping rebuild institutions and infrastructure.

Israel views Syria’s military reconstruction and Turkish involvement as threats. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz has warned President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan against steps that could strengthen Syrian military capabilities.

Israel attacked three Syrian airbases examined for possible Turkish deployments in April 2025. The countries later opened talks in Azerbaijan to prevent their forces from coming into conflict in Syria.

Tuesday’s strike followed a Channel 13 report that US President Donald Trump had blocked an Israeli request for strikes in Syria amid Turkey’s expanding influence.

Barrack met with Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani in İstanbul on Monday, hours before the strikes, for talks on regional developments, remaining sanctions and Syria’s reconstruction, the Syrian Foreign Ministry said.