Syrian FM: Israel Bombed Airbase Despite No-Turkey Assurances
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- Asaad Al-Shaibani, Syria's foreign minister, told Axios on Wednesday that he had made clear to Israel his government was not working with Turkey to build a military presence at a Syrian airbase
- Israel nonetheless carried out an early Tuesday morning strike on the airbase anyway, according to the Syrian account relayed by Al-Shaibani
- Al-Shaibani publicly characterized the Israeli bombing as "unjustified" to Axios, arguing Israel acted without legitimate cause
- The dispute centers on Turkey, which Al-Shaibani said Syria was not partnering with at the targeted base — the justification Israel reportedly cited for striking
Why it matters: By going to Axios — an American outlet — to contest Israel's stated rationale, Damascus is putting its rebuttal directly in front of Western readers and policymakers rather than relying on closed-door diplomacy. The exchange crystallizes the specific accusation: Syria says it explicitly denied a Turkish military buildup, and Israel bombed the site regardless.
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