Pakistan’s Foreign Office strongly condemned the recent Israeli airstrikes on Syria, reaffirming its steadfast support for the Syrian people. The condemnation specifically targeted the attack on the Abu al-Duhur airbase located in Syria’s Idlib province, describing the strikes as a clear breach of international law.
In its statement, the Foreign Office emphasized Pakistan’s commitment to Syria’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, and the pursuit of peace and stability in the region. It called upon the global community to intervene effectively to stop Israel’s military operations and hold it accountable for actions that undermine regional security.
On August 18, Israel launched eight airstrikes targeting the runway and storage facilities at the Abu al-Duhur airbase near Aleppo. Syrian state media reported no casualties from the attack, which marked Israel’s first assault on Syrian government assets since March of this year.
Meanwhile, Turkey condemned the Israeli strikes, labeling them a violation of Syria’s territorial sovereignty and urging the international community to take a firm stance against what it described as Israel’s escalating aggression. Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office defended the operation, alleging that Syria was close to violating a security agreement by permitting Turkish troops to deploy at the base. Israel warned it would not tolerate threats to its security but expressed openness to restoring the previous status quo. Turkey, however, has not confirmed the presence of its forces at the airbase.
In a related development, US envoy Tom Barrack criticized the strikes as an unnecessary escalation that threatens regional stability and called for restraint from all parties involved. Syrian Foreign Minister Assad al-Shibani condemned the attacks as unjustified and reiterated Syria’s commitment to diplomatic efforts aimed at ending such hostilities.
Since the ousting of Bashar al-Assad in 2024, Israel has frequently targeted Syrian forces, viewing the new Syrian leadership with suspicion due to its Islamist affiliations. Despite this, President Ahmed al-Sharaa has sought closer ties with Western countries and indicated Syria’s interest in negotiating a security agreement with Israel. Tensions between Israel and Turkey over Syria continue to intensify amid these developments.
