Current sectionMiddle East NewsAnalysis Israel says it struck to prevent Turkey from establishing a military foothold that could restrict its freedom of action. But the attack risks pushing Damascus closer to Ankara, while officials in Washington, Syria and Turkey suspect Israeli election politics played a roleShare to FacebookShare to XArticle printing is available to subscribers onlyPrint in a simple, ad-free formatSubscribeComments: Zen reading is available to subscribers onlyAd-free and in a comfortable reading formatSubscribeKsenia Svetlova01:59 PM • August 20 2026 IDTIsrael took responsibility Wednesday for bombing the Abu al-Duhur military airfield in northern Syria, accusing Damascus of escalation by allowing Turkey to establish a military presence at the site.Loading...Click the alert icon to follow topics:SyriaIDFRecep Tayyip ErdoganIranTurkeyIsraeli electionsBenjamin NetanyahuDonald TrumpAhmad al-SharaaCommentsLoading...In the NewsIn the News: Live UpdatesIranLebanonTommy RobinsonWest BankMamdaniAnan KhalailiAIPACHaaretz PodcastIsrael Bombed Syria to Send Turkey a Message. It May End Up BackfiringDon't Wait for a French-speaking Cavalry to End the OccupationTurkey Condemns Israeli Strike in Syria, Vows Military Support for DamascusCanada's Antisemitism Crisis Is More Than Just a FailureAustralia Summons Israeli Envoy Over IDF Not Probing Killing of Gaza Aid WorkersRemembering and rebuilding two years laterICYMIShe's the Superstar of the Israeli Left, and She Wants PowerIDF Marks Detained Palestinians With Numbers as Northern West Bank Raids ExpandIsrael Police Say Missing Israeli Mother and Daughter Found in ArgentinaReality Check: As the Election Nears, Haaretz Debunks Israeli Politicians' Biggest LiesThe American Jewish Establishment Is Defending an Israel That No Longer Exists'We're Not Nazis. This Isn't an Extermination Machine as During the Holocaust'