'Unnecessary escalation': Damascus, US envoy Barrack accuse Israel of striking Syrian airbase

In Syria on 18 August 2026, Damascus and US envoy Barrack accused Israel of striking a Syrian airbase, calling it an 'unnecessary escalation'. i24NEWS reported that the strikes sharpen the Israel-Turkey rivalry over Syria.

Separately, the IAEA chief said tons of nuclear material were found at an undisclosed Syrian site, and a Syrian minister said the material will remain in the country. Syria said it arrested a prominent Islamic State commander. The IDF said remains found in Syria belong to soldier Yehuda Katz, killed in 1982.