Syria has "no plans" to establish a Turkish military presence at the Abu al-Duhur airbase, which was recently targeted by Israeli air strikes, Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani announced on Wednesday. The comments came in an interview with the US news outlet Axios, addressing concerns that have fueled regional tensions.

Al-Shaibani clarified that while Turkish military officials had visited the airbase as part of "training and broader military cooperation," these visits did not signify an intention to establish a permanent Turkish military presence or deploy forces. He emphasized that the facility was largely empty, and he had communicated this position to Israel.

Israel carried out eight air strikes on the runway and storage facilities at the Abu al-Duhur base near Aleppo on Tuesday. Syrian state media reported the strikes, characterizing them as Israel's first attack on Syrian government assets since March. No casualties were reported from the incident, which drew international condemnation.

The air strikes occurred amid escalating security tensions between Israel and Turkey concerning Syria, where both nations maintain military operations. The Syrian foreign minister asserted that Israel lacked legitimate justification for the attack and warned that such military operations would further destabilize the region. He reiterated Syria's openness to de-escalation talks with Israel, provided that any future agreement addresses the security concerns of both countries.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that Israel had warned Syria against allowing a Turkish presence at the base prior to the strike. He suggested that the message had not been understood, indicating a lack of clarity or compliance. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz further accused Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of "dragging Turkiye into dangerous adventures in Syria" and declared Israel's unwillingness to tolerate any threat to its security.

Turkey has refuted the Israeli allegations, terming them "untenable." The Turkish Ministry of Defence stated on Thursday that Ankara would continue to support Syria's efforts in developing its military capacity. The ministry also claimed that no Turkish military delegation was present at the airbase before or during the Israeli attacks. Ankara called for more effective international measures against Israel's actions.

This exchange highlights the complex geopolitical landscape in Syria, where multiple international actors are involved. The incident underscores the potential for miscalculation and escalation in a region already fraught with conflict and competing interests.

Unresolved questions remain regarding the extent of Turkish military involvement in Syria and the specific nature of its cooperation with Syrian authorities at facilities like Abu al-Duhur. The differing accounts from Syria, Israel, and Turkey underscore the challenges in verifying information and navigating the diplomatic fallout.