Pakistan has strongly condemned an Israeli airstrike on the Abu al-Duhur Airbase in Syria’s Idlib province, describing the attack as an unprovoked action and a serious violation of international law.
The Foreign Office said Pakistan stands firmly with the Syrian people and reaffirmed its support for Syria’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, peace and prosperity.
Israeli forces carried out airstrikes on the Abu al-Duhur base near Aleppo and close to the Turkish border on Tuesday. Israel said the strikes were linked to concerns that Syria was preparing to allow Turkish troops to deploy at the airbase.
Pakistan Calls Attack a Violation of International Law
In a statement, Pakistan’s Foreign Office said such provocative actions were a “flagrant violation of international law” and warned that they could further undermine peace and stability in the region.
Islamabad reiterated its “unwavering solidarity” with the people of Syria and said it fully supported the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The Foreign Office also called on the international community to take effective steps to stop what it described as repeated violations of international law by Israeli occupation forces.
Pakistan further urged the international community to hold Israel accountable for actions it said were contributing to instability across the region.
Israel Cites Security Concerns Over Turkish Deployment
The Israeli government has defended the strikes by pointing to what it considers a potential security threat.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said Syria was close to violating a security-related “status quo agreed with Israel” by allowing Turkish forces to deploy at the airbase.
According to the Israeli statement, such a deployment would pose a threat to Israel’s security, and Israel would not accept the move.
The development highlights the increasingly complicated security situation in Syria, where several regional and international actors have competing interests and military activities.
Türkiye Rejects Israeli Claims
Türkiye has strongly rejected the position put forward by Netanyahu’s office.
The Turkish presidency said the Israeli government’s claims reflected what it described as an intention to pursue “expansionist and destabilising policies” ahead of elections in Israel.
Ankara argued that lasting peace in the region could only be achieved if Israel respected international law and abandoned what it called aggressive and coercive policies.
Türkiye Invites Ishaq Dar to Istanbul Meeting With Saudi and Egyptian Foreign Ministers
The latest exchange comes amid increasingly strained relations between Türkiye and Israel, particularly over developments in Syria.
Rising Tensions Over Syria
The Israeli strikes came as tensions between Israel and Türkiye have been growing, with both countries maintaining military interests and activities in Syria.
Türkiye, which has one of NATO’s largest military forces, has emerged as a key ally of Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa. Ankara has repeatedly accused Israel of attempting to destabilise Syria and undermine its new administration.
Turkish officials have also called for international pressure on Israel to respect Syria’s territorial integrity.
The situation has created additional diplomatic challenges as regional powers attempt to prevent further escalation inside Syria.
US Working on Deconfliction Mechanism
The United States has also become involved in efforts to reduce the risk of confrontation among the parties.
Tom Barrack, the US special presidential envoy for Syria and Iraq, told Reuters following Tuesday’s strikes that Washington was working to establish a deconfliction mechanism involving Israel, Türkiye and Syria.
Barrack said the United States already facilitates an information-sharing and dialogue mechanism among the three sides.
The latest developments underline the delicate security environment surrounding Syria, where competing military interests and regional tensions continue to pose challenges to broader efforts aimed at maintaining stability.
Pakistan’s condemnation adds to the diplomatic reactions to the Israeli strike, with Islamabad emphasizing that Syria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity must be respected and that international law should be upheld.
