Turkey denies military delegation visited Syria's Abu al-Duhur air base

Turkey on Thursday denied stationing any military delegation at Syria's Abu al-Duhur air base, struck by Israel earlier this week near Aleppo.

The denial follows Israeli claims, including from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, that Turkish forces had toured the site as part of efforts to reactivate it. Ankara vowed to keep supporting Syrian sovereignty.

Did a Turkish military delegation visit the Abu al-Duhur air base?

According to Turkey, no. A defence official said there was no Turkish military delegation at the base before or during Israel's attack. Israel and the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights had said Turkish officers visited the site recently as part of efforts to reactivate it.

The disused base, damaged during Syria's civil war, has been out of service since 2012. Syria accused Israel of striking it two days before Turkey issued its denial. Israel said the strike targeted a Turkish military presence at the site.

What did Israel say about Turkey's role at the base?

Netanyahu's office said Turkish forces had recently toured the base. The prime minister warned that Israel would not tolerate a "threat" from a Turkish presence there.

He told an army radio podcast that Israel would not accept "a Turkish military entrenchment moving southward, because it threatens us."

How has Turkey responded to Israel's strikes?

Turkish defence ministry spokesman Rear Admiral Zeki Akturk called the strikes "unacceptable." He said Ankara would act "resolutely" to protect Syria's efforts to establish post-war stability. Akturk said the attack targeted Syria's stability, security, unity, integrity and infrastructure.

"Attacks violating Syria's sovereignty and territorial integrity are unacceptable," he told journalists. He added that Turkey's efforts to protect Syria's sovereignty and help it build a stable, secure environment would continue "resolutely."

What did the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights report?

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said on Tuesday that Israeli strikes followed a visit by a Turkish military delegation to the airfield in recent days.

It said the visit was part of efforts to reactivate the base.