Israel News for 8-19-2026
News Update
Overnight, Israeli jets struck the Abu al-Duhur military airport in the eastern countryside of Idlib, Syria. According to the Sabereen news agency, runways and storage facilities were targeted by four aircraft. It is one of the largest and most prominent military bases in northern Syria. There were reportedly no casualties. Prime Minister Netanyahu’s office issued a statement saying: “Israel and Syria agreed on a status quo in security matters, which Syria almost violated by allowing Turkish soldiers to deploy at the air force base near Aleppo. Israel has repeatedly warned Syria that such a deployment would pose a threat to Israel’s security – and Syria has chosen to ignore the warnings. Israel will not tolerate threats to its security, and will welcome a return to the status quo.” US Ambassador to Turkey and the Trump administration’s special envoy to Syria, Tom Barrack, said that the strike “carried a real risk of rapid escalation into a direct military confrontation between Israel and Turkey as well as Syria.”
The base was being reconstructed with significant Turkish assistance, and Israel was concerned about them being used and about the possible deployment of air defense systems that could threaten Israel’s control of the airspace, as well as advanced drones. A Turkish delegation visited the base only recently. Israel has previously conveyed messages to Turkey that it would not accept the rebuilding of the Syrian military or any threat to its air superiority. Israel struck the same airfield in April, 2025.
The IDF carried out an airstrike against several Hamas commanders in the Shati area near Gaza City’s port, who were planning attacks against Israeli forces. The IDF said measures were taken before the strike to reduce harm to civilians, including the use of precise munitions and aerial surveillance.
The IDF confirmed Tuesday that the remains of Staff Sgt. Yehuda Yekutiel Katz, an armored corps soldier who had been missing since the Battle of Sultan Yacoub in the First Lebanon War 44 years ago, were returned to Israel and formally identified. The IDF said his remains were located in an operation led by Military Intelligence and conducted jointly with the Mossad. Katz’s return completes the recovery of all Israeli soldiers who had remained missing from the Battle of Sultan Yacoub. Staff Sgt. Zachary Baumel’s remains were returned to Israel in 2019, while Staff Sgt. Tzvi Feldman was returned in 2025.
