Israel defends strike on Syria as U.S. frustration with Bibi grows

Israel told the Trump administration its recent attack on a Syrian airbase was aimed at preventing a Turkish military buildup in the area, U.S. and Israeli officials said.

Why it matters: The unusual strike exacerbated tensions in the region between three close U.S. partners, just as the Trump administration is trying to prevent further escalation.

Trump sees his approach to Ahmed al-Sharaa's government in Syria as a foreign policy achievement.

Trump is also very close to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.

Israel is a close U.S. ally, but Trump's relations with Netanyahu have grown more tense in recent months.

The aggressive move by Israel frustrated White House and senior U.S. officials.

But it also exposed again that the Trump administration is rarely prepared to draw a clear red line with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu .

Driving the news: The strike occurred early in the morning local time on Tuesday.

At least eight bombs hit the runways and several hangars at the Abu al-Duhur Airbase in northern Syria, about 45 miles from the Turkish border.

The strike damaged the runways, which had recently been rebuilt, but there were no casualties.

Israel initially did not take responsibility.

An Israeli military censor put a gag order on any reporting that confirmed Israel Defense Forces conducted the strike.

U.S.

Ambassador to Turkey Tom Barrack, who is also the U.S. envoy for Syria, then went on X and revealed Israel conducted the strike.