Syrian FM says Israeli strike on airbase ‘unjustified’
In an interview with Axios, Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani said Damascus had made clear to Israel before the strike on the Abu al-Dhuhur airbase that it had no intention of establishing a Turkish base there or deploying permanent Turkish forces at the site.
Al-Shaibani argued that the work at the airfield was solely aimed at restoring infrastructure for the Syrian Air Force, and that the base was almost completely empty when it was struck. He affirmed that Turkish officers had visited the site several days earlier, but said the visit was part of routine cooperation and training, similar to Syria’s contacts with Russia, Saudi Arabia and other countries.
The Syrian foreign minister said Damascus had been in contact with the Trump administration in an effort to prevent further escalation. He added that Syria remains interested in a security agreement to ease tensions along the border, provided that Israel also takes Syrian interests and sovereignty into account.
