ISLAMABAD: Several Muslim nations, including Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, on Friday strongly condemned the Israeli airstrikes targeting the Abu al-Duhur military airbase in northwestern Syria.
Foreign Ministers of Turkiye, Algeria, Indonesia, Jordan, Lebanon, Malaysia, Mauritania, Pakistan, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Somalia, in a joint statement, said these attacks constitute an extreme escalation and a flagrant violation of the sovereignty, territorial integrity, and political unity of Syria.
🔊PR No.2️⃣2️⃣4️⃣/2️⃣0️⃣2️⃣6️⃣
Joint Statement by the Foreign Ministers of Pakistan, Algeria, Indonesia, Jordan, Lebanon, Malaysia, Mauritania, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia and Turkiye
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— Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) August 21, 2026
The Ministers expressed deep concern over the continuous targeting and degradation of Syria’s territory and infrastructure. “Such actions directly risk to undermine Syria’s ongoing efforts to restore security, rebuild national institutions, and address the humanitarian consequences of years of prolonged conflict,” they warned.
The Ministers said that Israel’s continued violations of Syria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity risk further escalating tensions, undermining regional peace and stability, and weakening respect for international law and the principles enshrined in the UN Charter.
They called on the international community to adopt a firm and principled stance against the ongoing violations and take concrete measures, in line with international law and the UN Charter, to bring them to an end.
The Ministers also urged full compliance with the 1974 Disengagement Agreement and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from occupied areas, stressing that such steps are essential to prevent further escalation and safeguard regional peace and stability.
They underscored the imperative of respect for Syria’s sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity and political unity and stressed the rejection of any attempt to undermine them.
Israeli airstrikes hit Syrian airbase
Last Tuesday, eight Israeli airstrikes hit the runway and storage facilities at Abu al-Duhur airbase in northwestern Syria, causing material damage, Syrian state media reported, as the US envoy for Syria and Iraq described the attack as an “unnecessary escalation”.
Syria’s state-run Ekhbariya, citing a military source, said the strikes targeted the runway and storage facilities at the airbase.
US Special Presidential Envoy for Syria and Iraq Tom Barrack said the United States was “deeply concerned” about the strikes.
“We are deeply concerned that the confirmed Israeli airstrikes on Abu al-Duhur Airbase constitute an unnecessary escalation that does not advance regional stability,” Barrack said on X.
We are deeply concerned that the confirmed Israeli airstrikes on Abu al-Duhur Airbase constitute an unnecessary escalation that does not advance regional stability.
The Al-Sharra government has neither adopted a predatory posture nor maintained proxy forces. It has, in fact,…
— Ambassador Tom Barrack (@USAMBTurkiye) August 18, 2026
“The United States continues to believe that restraint and engagement offer the more constructive course,” he added, urging all sides to prioritise dialogue over further military incidents.
Syria condemns Israeli strikes
Syria’s Foreign Ministry condemned the attack, describing the targeting of the airbase as “unjustified” and calling on the international community and the UN Security Council to condemn what it described as repeated Israeli violations.
Also Read: Israeli Airstrikes Hit Syrian Airbase, US Envoy Concerned over Escalation
The strikes came shortly after a Turkish military delegation visited the airbase as part of preliminary efforts to rehabilitate its runways.
Statement Issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates of the Syrian Arab Republic pic.twitter.com/K8r58jWEAu
— وزارة الخارجية والمغتربين السورية (@syrianmofaex) August 18, 2026
The timing has added to growing tensions between Israel and Turkiye over Ankara’s expanding role in rebuilding Syria’s military and state institutions following the ousting of former President Bashar al-Assad in late 2024.
Turkiye has been helping train Syria’s new army and has provided support for rebuilding state institutions and infrastructure.
The base, about 70 kilometres from the Turkish border, has been out of service as a dedicated military airfield since 2013.
