An Israeli official revealed that Israel and the United States conducted a “sensitive intelligence exchange at the highest levels” before the recent air strikes in Syria.
The official said, in an interview with Fox News, according to what was reported by the Yedioth Ahronoth website: “Very sensitive intelligence information was exchanged with the United States in advance, at the highest levels of various agencies and bodies.”
He added that Syrian President Ahmed Al-Sharaa “realizes that he cannot act as the previous Syrian regime did, which supported the proxies.”
The Israeli official’s statements come in light of unprecedented condemnation from the US Special Envoy to Syria, Tom Barrack, who expressed his deep concern about the Israeli strike on the Abu Al-Duhur military air base, considering that it may lead to an “unnecessary escalation.”
Regarding the nature of the target, Israeli Army Radio correspondent Doron Kadush said that it is still unclear whether the strike targeted a target on the ground, such as a shipment that arrived at the airport, or whether it aimed to prevent a plane from landing by targeting the runways of Abu al-Duhur Military Airport.
Kaddush pointed out the importance of the airport’s location and its proximity to the Turkish border, suggesting that the potential target is linked to Turkey’s attempts to arm the Syrian army and help it develop its military capabilities, but he stressed that this possibility remains only an estimate in light of the absence of any official Israeli comment regarding the attack.
Abu Al-Duhur Airport is located in the southeastern countryside of Idlib, about 27 kilometers east of the city of Saraqeb, adjacent to the town of Abu Al-Duhur. It enjoys a strategic location due to its location between the governorates of Idlib, Hama, and Aleppo and its proximity to the Syrian desert.
The airport is considered one of the most prominent military bases in northern Syria, as it was one of the bases of the former regime and a focal point for military operations in the region.
Estimates vary regarding the airport’s area, with sources indicating that it is about 16 square kilometers, while other sources estimate it at about 23 square kilometers, and the airport includes several runways.
