US condemns ‘unnecessary escalation’ after Israeli strikes on Syrian airbase

NewsWorldMiddle EastUS condemns ‘unnecessary escalation’ after Israeli strikes on Syrian airbaseAmbassador Tom Barrack said the US remained deeply concerned by the strikes on Abu Duhur airbaseRosie Slater Tuesday 18 August 2026 12:51 BSTBookmarkCommentsGo to commentsBookmark popoverRemoved from bookmarksClose popover{"translations":{"comments":"Go to comments","share":"Share","copyLink":"Copy link","bookmark":"Bookmark","removeBookmark":"Remove bookmark"},"showComments":true,"showBookmark":true,"articleId":"b3034864","articleMeta":{"url":"https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/syria-israel-strikes-abu-duhur-airbase-idlib-b3034864.html","title":"US condemns ‘unnecessary escalation’ after Israeli strikes on Syrian airbase"}}open image in gallery{"id":"trigger-autogallery-184376","index":0}A picture taken from the Abu Duhur military airport in Idlib province, on January 21, 2018 shows smoke billowing in the foreground. (AFP/Getty)On The Ground newsletter: Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondentsGet a weekly dispatch from our international correspondentsGet a weekly international news dispatchEmail*SIGN UPI would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice{"className":"sc-1ge0fwe-0","newsletterData":{"pianoFieldName":"receiveOnTheGround","regTitle":"On The Ground","subscriptionGroup":"on_the_ground","subscriptionGroupId":"14806361-6435-4d19-b06e-05326605fb01","pathPrefix":["/news/world/europe","/news/world/middle-east","/news/world/australasia","/news/world/africa","/asia"],"associatedAuthors":["Bel Trew","Sam Kiley"],"title":"On The Ground newsletter: Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents","mobileTitle":"Get a weekly international news dispatch","lengthenedMobileTitle":"Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents","imageSrc":"https://static.independent.co.uk/static-assets/images/newsletters/onTheGround1_1.png","newsletterKey":"receiveOnTheGround"...