Twelve countries, including Türkiye, adopted a joint position against Israel’s airstrikes on the Abu Zuhur Military Air Base in northwestern Syria.
The foreign ministers of Türkiye, Algeria, Indonesia, Jordan, Palestine, Qatar, Lebanon, Malaysia, Mauritania, Pakistan, Somalia and Saudi Arabia strongly condemned Israel’s attacks in a joint statement issued on August 21.
The ministers noted that the attacks had further heightened tensions in the region, describing them as a clear violation of Syria’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and political unity.
“An extremely dangerous escalation”
The joint statement emphasized that Israel’s attacks on Abu Zuhur constituted “an extremely dangerous escalation.”
The ministers said the continuation of Israel’s attacks on Syrian territory threatened the security and stability not only of Syria but of the entire region.
They stressed that Israel must comply with its obligations under international law and the United Nations Charter, and called for respect for Syria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Call for the international community to act against Israel
The foreign ministers of the 12 countries also called on the international community to adopt a more determined stance to stop Israel’s attacks on Syria.
They emphasized that actions violating Syria’s sovereignty must not go unanswered and that necessary steps should be taken under international law.
The statement also called on Israel to end its military presence in Syrian territory and withdraw from the areas it has occupied.
Abu Zuhur was hit by eight airstrikes
Israeli warplanes targeted the Abu Zuhur Military Air Base in northwestern Syria on the morning of August 18.
Reuters reported that the base was hit by eight airstrikes. The attacks damaged the runway and storage areas, while no casualties were reported.
Türkiye’s Foreign Ministry strongly condemned Israel immediately after the attack.
The ministry said Israel was continuing attacks targeting Syria’s infrastructure and capabilities and was violating the country’s territorial integrity and unity.
Ankara also called on the international community to adopt a more determined stance to end Israel’s aggression against Syria.
Criticism of Israel also came from the United States
The attack also drew criticism from Washington.
Tom Barrack, the U.S. ambassador to Türkiye and special envoy for Syria, described the Abu Zuhur attack as “an unnecessary escalation.”
Washington maintained diplomatic contacts aimed at preventing a direct conflict between Türkiye, Israel and Syria.
A widening common front on Syria
The joint statement by Türkiye and the other 11 countries is significant because it turned separate condemnations issued by different countries after the Abu Zuhur attack into a common diplomatic declaration.
Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and several other countries issued separate statements immediately after the August 18 attack, describing Israel’s action as a violation of Syria’s sovereignty and international law.
With the latest joint statement, Türkiye, Algeria, Indonesia, Jordan, Palestine, Qatar, Lebanon, Malaysia, Mauritania, Pakistan, Somalia and Saudi Arabia established a common diplomatic position on halting Israel’s military operations in Syria.
