US criticises Israel over 'unnecessary escalation' after strikes on Syrian airbase

Israel said it had attacked the base because Syria had been close to breaching an agreed-upon “status quo in security matters” by allowing Turkish troops to deploy there.

Damascus called the attacks "an unjustified act of aggression" that imperilled regional security.

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".

US special envoy for Syria and Iraq, Tom Barrack, says the two countries should "prioritise logical discourse over further military incidents".

Israeli airstrikes hit Syrian airbase, US envoy concerned over escalation  Reuters

Ambassador Tom Barrack said the US remained deeply concerned by the strikes on Abu Duhur airbase