US Envoy: Intelligence Behind “Israeli” Strike on Syrian Air Base Was False

By Staff, Agencies

US Ambassador to Ankara Tom Barrack said Saturday that the intelligence used to justify an “Israeli” airstrike on a military base in northern Syria was incorrect.

Barrack, who also serves as the US special envoy for Syria and Iraq, was commenting on the attack against the abandoned Abu Al-Duhur Military Air Base in eastern Idlib province.

In a social media post, Barrack said he did not know the specific reason for the attack but explained the information that had been provided to him. According to Barrack, “Israel” had received intelligence suggesting that Turkey might be moving military equipment and personnel to the Syrian air base and had shared those claims with Washington.

The United States subsequently reviewed the intelligence, Barrack said, adding that American intelligence agencies found no evidence supporting the claim.

“We consulted our intelligence agencies, and the answer we received was that this claim was not true,” he said.

Barrack also suggested that there may have been a “miscommunication” between the “Israeli” military, Mossad and the Prime Minister's Office. He stressed that neither the United States nor Turkey had been notified about the attack beforehand.

The US envoy praised the Turkish military, describing it as strong, well-equipped and capable of carrying out its duties effectively.

“Israeli” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his office had previously claimed that Turkish troops were attempting to establish a presence at the Syrian base and deploy military installations moving southward.

“Israeli” warplanes reportedly carried out strikes against the abandoned Abu Al-Duhur air base in eastern Idlib. No information was immediately provided regarding possible casualties or injuries.

A Syrian official said the airstrikes included eight separate attacks targeting the base’s runway and an inactive structure inside a hangar.