Turkey denies Israeli claims, says no troops were at Syrian airbase struck by IDF

On 20 August 2026, Israel struck a Syrian airbase, named in Arabic-language reports as Abu al-Duhur, and Israel and Turkey stepped up warnings over Syria. Turkey denied Israeli claims and said it had no troops at the base. The Turkish presidency said Turkey 'will not fall into the trap' set by Netanyahu in Syria. Damascus confirmed a Turkish military visit to the base but rejected any deployment plan, according to the Times of Israel, and Syria rejected Israel's justification for the strike over an alleged Turkish military buildup.

Israeli Defense Minister Katz warned Erdogan that Israel will not tolerate 'dangerous adventures' by Turkey in Syria. Turkey condemned the strike and vowed military support for Damascus, according to Haaretz, and a US envoy condemned the Israeli strikes, per RT. The Jerusalem Post asked whether Israel and Turkey could clash in Syria as tensions over military presence grow.