Türkiye and 11 other countries issued a joint statement strongly condemning Israeli airstrikes targeting the military Abu al-Duhur Air Base in northwestern Syria.
The joint statement, issued on August 21 by the foreign ministers of Türkiye, Algeria, Indonesia, Jordan, Palestine, Qatar, Lebanon, Malaysia, Mauritania, Pakistan, Somalia and Saudi Arabia, came amid rising tensions following Israel’s latest attacks on Syrian territory.
The ministers said the attacks constituted a violation of Syria’s sovereignty and the unity and territorial integrity of the country, warning that continued military escalation could threaten the security and stability of Syria and the entire region.
“An extremely dangerous escalation”
The foreign ministers of the 12 countries described the Israeli strikes on Abu al-Duhur Air Base as “an extremely dangerous escalation.”
They stressed that continued Israeli attacks on Syrian territory not only threaten Syria’s security and stability but also pose a risk to regional security and peace.
The ministers also called on Israel to fulfill its responsibilities under international law and the UN Charter and to respect Syria’s sovereignty and its unity and territorial integrity.
Call for firm international action
The 12 countries called on the international community to take a firmer stance to stop Israeli attacks on Syria and prevent further escalation in the region.
They also urged the international community, particularly the UN Security Council, to assume its legal and moral responsibilities and take concrete steps to halt the violations.
The statement further called for an end to Israel’s military presence inside Syrian territory and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the areas they had seized.
Eight strikes targeted Abu al-Duhur Air Base
Israeli warplanes targeted the military Abu al-Duhur Air Base in northwestern Syria on August 18.
The base sustained eight separate airstrikes, damaging the runway and storage areas. No casualties were announced.
The attack prompted a swift reaction from Türkiye, which condemned the strikes as a new violation of Syria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Ankara also called on the international community to adopt a more effective and firm position toward Israel’s military operations in Syria.
Washington also criticizes the attack
Israel’s attack on Abu al-Duhur also drew criticism from the United States.
Tom Barrack, the US ambassador to Türkiye and special envoy to Syria, described the Israeli strikes as “an unnecessary escalation.”
Washington continues its diplomatic efforts to prevent rising tensions between Türkiye, Syria and Israel from turning into a direct military confrontation.
Joint diplomatic position against attacks on Syria
Several countries, including Türkiye, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and Qatar, had separately condemned the Israeli attack on August 18, describing it as a violation of Syrian sovereignty and international law.
The latest statement brought these positions together in a joint diplomatic initiative involving 12 countries.
Through the statement, Türkiye, Algeria, Indonesia, Jordan, Palestine, Qatar, Lebanon, Malaysia, Mauritania, Pakistan, Somalia and Saudi Arabia declared a unified position calling for an end to Israel’s military operations against Syria and respect for its sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity.
