Syrian Air Bases Targeted Amid Rising Turkish-Israeli Tensions

One day before Israeli airstrikes hit Abu al-Duhur Air Base, satellite imagery showed extensive rehabilitation work underway on the runway. The following day, dark patches and signs of damage appeared across parts of the facility. A similar pattern has emerged at other Syrian air bases that underwent rehabilitation or were visited by Turkish military teams since spring 2025.

On August 18, eight Israeli airstrikes struck the runway and storage facilities at Abu al-Duhur Air Base, after months of rehabilitation work. Syrian officials said the strikes came hours after a Turkish military delegation left the site. Ankara denied having troops at the air base or plans to establish a permanent Turkish base there.

By comparing a series of satellite images with developments on the ground, as well as reports and statements from Syria, Turkey and Israel, Misbar’s team at Al-Araby TV tracked developments at four Syrian air bases: Abu al-Duhur, Tadmur, T-4 and Hama.

The analysis identified a recurring pattern: Rehabilitation work at some of the bases, or reports of inspections by Turkish military teams, was followed by Israeli airstrikes targeting their runways and facilities.

The investigation examines whether this pattern is part of an Israeli effort to neutralize Syria’s remaining air capabilities or to prevent the establishment of a Turkish military presence that could limit Israel’s freedom of operations in Syrian airspace.

Rehabilitation Work at Abu Al-Duhur Air Base Prior To Israeli Strikes

The strikes marked the first Israeli airstrikes on Abu al-Duhur Air Base since the fall of Bashar Assad’s government. The air base is located in the eastern countryside of Idlib, about 70 kilometers from the Turkish border, according to measurements using Google Earth. It has one main runway and about 20 aircraft hangars.

The base’s location in the eastern Idlib countryside gives it potential military significance because of its proximity to the Turkish border and the Idlib-Aleppo-Hama triangle. It was taken out of service as a military air base in 2013 after changing hands several times during the Syrian war.

By analyzing a series of satellite images taken over roughly three and a half months before the strikes, Misbar’s team at Al-Araby TV identified grading, repair and rehabilitation work at the air base.

The activity began on a limited scale in late May 2026 before expanding in June and July.

From the beginning of August through August 17, one day before the strikes, extensive rehabilitation work was observed, focused primarily on the main runway. The runway is about 3 kilometers long and 41 meters wide, according to Sentinel-2 measurements.

A comparison of images taken on August 17 and 19 showed dark patches along the runway consistent with the timing of the strikes, while repair work continued in the aftermath. This is consistent with a report by Al-Araby TV’s correspondent in Syria that limited repair work began following the strikes.

Conflicting Accounts of Turkish Military Presence in Syria

According to Syrian officials who spoke to The Associated Press, the strikes came hours after a Turkish military delegation left Abu al-Duhur Air Base following a visit to inspect rehabilitation work. Sources told Al-Araby Al-Jadeed that the work was still in its early stages and included repairs to the runway. They also reported seeing vehicles bearing Turkish markings and a Bayraktar drone at the site.

The Turkish Defense Ministry, however, denied that Turkish forces or a military delegation were present at the air base before or during the attack.

The Israeli prime minister’s office linked the strikes to the possibility of Turkish forces being deployed at the base, saying Damascus was on the verge of violating understandings aimed at maintaining the security “status quo.”

The Jerusalem Post and other Israeli sources cited intelligence indicating plans to deploy Turkish radar and air defense systems at the base. They said the strikes targeted the runway to prevent Turkish troops or equipment from landing there.

Meanwhile, Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani told Axios that there were no plans to establish a Turkish base or deploy permanent Turkish forces at Abu al-Duhur. He said the work was limited to rehabilitating the air base’s facilities to support the Syrian air force. According to al-Shaibani, the Turkish officers’ visit was part of training and an exchange of expertise.

In an effort to contain the escalation, a Syrian delegation led by al-Shaibani met with an Israeli delegation under U.S. mediation and hosted by Jordan on August 23. The talks focused on halting the attacks and reviving negotiations on a security agreement. Al-Shaibani later said Damascus expected the negotiations to resume soon, adding that its priorities were to halt the attacks and build trust.

Recurring Pattern Since Spring 2025: Israeli Strikes on Syrian Air Bases

The strikes on Abu al-Duhur were not an isolated incident. Since spring 2025, Israeli airstrikes have targeted the air bases at Tadmur, T-4 and Hama following reports that the facilities had been included in rehabilitation plans or inspected by Turkish military teams, according to a Reuters investigation. Satellite imagery allows the damage to these bases to be tracked and compared with the reported timing of Turkish military activity.

Tadmur Military Air Base

Tadmur Military Air Base, located in the eastern countryside of Homs near the city of Tadmur, is one of the clearest examples of this pattern. The base was targeted by Israeli airstrikes in spring 2025.

The base holds strategic importance because of its location in the Syrian desert and its proximity to gas and phosphate fields and related facilities.

On March 21, 2025, Israeli fighter jets carried out airstrikes on Tadmur and T-4 air bases. Four days later, on March 25, the Israeli military said it had struck additional military targets at Tadmur, describing them as “remaining military capabilities” at the base.

The base was therefore subjected to two rounds of Israeli strikes within roughly a week.

The strikes coincided with reports of parallel Turkish military activity. Reuters, citing four sources, reported that Turkish military teams had inspected at least three Syrian air bases in the preceding weeks, including Tadmur, to assess the possibility of deploying Turkish forces under a joint defense agreement with Damascus.

A regional intelligence official said the Turkish teams assessed the condition of the runway, hangars and other infrastructure at the base. According to the sources, another inspection of Tadmur was scheduled for March 25, but the visit was canceled after Israel struck the base hours before the scheduled visit.

T-4 Air Base

T-4 Air Base is located about 60 kilometers east of Tadmur, near the village of Tiyas in the Homs countryside. The investigation found a similar timeline linking reports of Turkish inspections of the base with subsequent Israeli airstrikes.

The base has 54 aircraft hangars, one main runway and two secondary runways, each about 3 kilometers long. It is also located near several major gas fields.

Israeli airstrikes targeted T-4 Air Base on March 21 and 25 and April 2, 2025. The Israeli military said the strikes targeted sites containing what it described as “remaining military capabilities.”

The strikes came amid reports that Turkish teams had inspected the base and were assessing its potential use as part of military cooperation with Damascus. Middle East Eye, citing sources, reported that potential plans included deploying the Hisar air defense system, surveillance aircraft and drones. The Jerusalem Post, meanwhile, reported that Turkey was seeking to convert the base into a facility for operating drones.

A comparison of satellite imagery taken between March 12 and April 6, 2025, shows new signs of damage at the base during that period.

An image taken on March 12 shows the runways, facilities and infrastructure largely intact, with no clear visible signs of damage or significant changes. By March 22, dark patches and other signs of damage had appeared around the runways, hangars and several other facilities, following the March 21 airstrikes.

The March 27 imagery shows additional damage at several locations across the base, while images from April 6 reveal further signs of damage in other areas.

Anadolu Agency reported that the strikes targeted the central sections of the main runway, radar systems and aircraft hangars. The agency also reported that the S-200 and S-400 air defense systems were targeted.

Hama Military Air Base

On April 2, 2025, Israeli airstrikes targeted Hama Military Air Base, west of the city, as well as T-4 Air Base and the Scientific Studies and Research Center in Damascus.

The air base occupies a central location that gives it strategic value for supporting air operations across central and northern Syria.

Hama, along with Tadmur and T-4, was among the Syrian air bases that Turkish military teams reportedly inspected in the weeks before the strikes as part of an assessment of the potential deployment of Turkish forces in Syria.

Reports said the air base was hit in a series of strikes that caused explosions at ammunition depots and areas where military and combat helicopters were stationed.

Reuters, citing a Syrian military source, reported that 12 strikes hit the base, destroying runways, control towers, weapons depots and hangars. The source said Israel had “completely destroyed the air base to ensure it could not be used.”

A comparison of satellite imagery from March 15 to April 9, 2025, shows new signs of damage along the main runway that correspond with the timing of the Israeli strikes.

Israel portrayed the strikes as a warning against the deployment of foreign forces in Syria. Defense Minister Israel Katz said Israel would not allow threats to its security, while Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar accused Turkey of seeking to expand its influence in Syria.

Syria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates, meanwhile, said the strikes had almost completely destroyed Hama Air Base and caused injuries. It condemned the attacks as a violation of Syrian sovereignty and an attempt to destabilize the country.

A chronological comparison of the four air bases reveals a recurring overlap between rehabilitation work or reported Turkish inspections and subsequent Israeli strikes targeting runways and other facilities.

The timing alone does not establish that Turkish activity was the direct cause of all the strikes. However, it coincides with public Israeli statements opposing the deployment of Turkish forces or air defense systems in Syria and emphasizing Israel’s intention to preserve its freedom of military operations in Syrian airspace.

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