Israeli airstrikes hit Syrian airbase, US envoy concerned over escalation

By Feras Dalatey and Tuvan Gumrukcu DAMASCUS/ANKARA, Aug 18 (Reuters) - Israel bombed an airbase in Syria on Tuesday, Syrian state media said, carrying out what appeared to be its first strike on Syrian government assets since March and drawing criticism from a U.S. envoy who called it an "unnecessary escalation".