US urges Israel, Syria to de-escalate after Abu al-Duhur strikes

US Deputy Representative Tammy Bruce on Thursday urged Israel and Syria to seek de-escalation following Israeli airstrikes on the Abu al-Duhur military airbase earlier this month, telling the UN Security Council that Washington would maintain dialogue with both capitals to prevent further escalation.

Addressing the council in New York, Bruce said the US would continue engaging with regional stakeholders to promote peaceful solutions. "The United States will continue to engage closely with both countries and with all regional stakeholders to promote dialogue and peaceful solutions," she said.

Israeli strikes target northwest Syria

Israeli warplanes conducted eight strikes on the runway of the Abu al-Duhur Military Airbase in northwestern Idlib province on August 18, causing significant damage to the installation's infrastructure. The attack forms part of an intensified Israeli campaign inside Syria since the collapse of Bashar al-Assad's regime in December 2024, when Israel declared the 1974 disengagement agreement void and seized control of the Syrian buffer zone.

US removes terrorism sponsor label

Bruce announced that Washington rescinded its designation of Syria as a state sponsor of terrorism on August 24, describing the decision as a "historic milestone" that recognizes continued progress by Syrian authorities on political, humanitarian and security priorities. She added that removing US restrictions on Damascus would help unlock international trade and investment opportunities and contribute to the country's reconstruction efforts.