Damascus Blames Israel for Strikes on Idlib Airbase

The airfield goes out of service as a dedicated military base and changes hands repeatedly during Syria's 14-year civil war. Rebel forces captured it in 2015 after a prolonged siege, forces loyal to Assad retook it in early 2018, and rebels recaptured it in November 2024 during the offensive that brought down the regime, according to the Jerusalem Post.

Assad is ousted. The area comes under the control of Syria's new government, led by Ahmed al-Sharaa. A military source told the Times of Israel the base has since been used as a training center for Syria's new army.

The IDF bombs the Syrian general staff command building in Damascus, in response to attacks on Druze civilians.

The IDF says it struck Syrian military camps in the country's south after an alleged attack on Druze civilians in the Sweida area — the last acknowledged Israeli air attack in Syria before this one.

Syria conducts air exercises in the north using Russian-made MiG-21 fighter jets, its first such exercises since Assad's ouster.

Israel's Kan news reports that Israeli security officials detected Syria accelerating efforts to rebuild its air force, including recruiting pilots and flight training. Kan quoted an Israeli security source saying Israel was monitoring the developments and had shared its concerns with the United States.

A Turkish military delegation visits the airfield as part of efforts to reactivate it, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

Strikes hit the runway. Damascus blames Israel.