An Israeli airstrike on Abu al-Duhur airbase in rural Idlib, Syria, on August 18 has heightened tensions involving Turkey, the United States and Israel. Israeli warplanes targeted the runways of the largely inactive airbase near the Turkish border. The strike was widely viewed as a message to Turkey rather than an operation against a militarily significant target.

Israel said Syria was preparing to deploy Turkish forces at the base, a claim denied by both Syria and Turkey. US Ambassador to Turkey and Syria special envoy Tom Barrack said Israel had informed Washington about possible Turkish activity about six days before the strike. After checking its own intelligence, the United States told Israel that no Turkish military activity was present, but Israel carried out the attack anyway.

Barrack said Israel withheld operational details, fearing Washington might warn Turkey. Israeli aircraft came within about 80 kilometres of the Turkish border, creating a risk of an unintended encounter with Turkish jets. Analysts said Syria has the sovereign right to renovate airbases and pursue defence cooperation with Turkey. The report also cited previous US-Israeli differences over a proposed Israeli ground operation in Iran.