“If anyone tries to hurt us, they’ll answer.”
Fox News Chief Foreign Correspondent Trey Inst reported from the Israel-Syria border, where many Israeli Druze went into Syria on Wednesday to aid their relatives facing threats from extremist groups.
Military actions by Israel in Syria this week have been described as a response to violence against minority communities, as noted by regional analysts.
Just a few days prior, there was speculation about a possible normalization agreement between Israel and Syria, a development that U.S. officials were mediating. However, this fragile hope quickly dissolved into chaos with Israeli airstrikes near Damascus.
A ceasefire agreement announced on July 16 aimed to quell recent deadly clashes but has remained shaky and ineffective.
“For the Israeli Druze, it feels like what’s happening in southern Syria is happening again on October 7th,” stated Avner Golov, vice president of the think tank Mind Israel. “Israel can no longer view Syria merely as a neighborhood issue; it’s spilling into domestic territory.”
In a particularly striking scene, Israeli Druze citizens crossed the border into Syria despite stern warnings from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who emphasized the dangers to their lives and the potential hindrance to military operations.
Netanyahu urged, “My Brother Druze, citizens of Israel… Please don’t cross the border. You are risking your life – you can be killed or kidnapped – and you undermine the IDF’s efforts. Let the IDF handle the situation.”
Following the Israeli strike, Syrian interim president Ahmed Alshara has portrayed the military action as destabilizing. He claimed that the government forces in Sweida had restored order, asserting that supporting the Druze minority is a priority and insisting that Syrians “do not fear war.”
Inside Israel, the unraveling situation in Syria has ignited intense discussions. Some advocates urge support for Alshara as an anti-Iran strongman, while others recommend broader military measures to establish a buffer in southern Syria. Golov suggested a moderated approach, balancing preconditions for strikes with the Druze’s demands for autonomy and accountability.
“If Alshara is willing to agree to punish those responsible for genocide and offer some measure of autonomy, then Israel can gradually collaborate with him,” Golov expressed.
Amid ongoing negotiations, regional leaders are being encouraged to stabilize Syria through a summit involving the U.S., Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Israel. Alshara emphasized the utility of Israeli military influence to attain diplomatic leverage.
Behnam Taleblu from the Foundation for Defense of Democracies noted that rather than focusing solely on competition with Turkey, Israel should consider reducing risks posed by Iran in Syria, which could be a significant gain.
Turkey: Surprised but Engaged
While Iran’s influence has diminished, Turkey continues to assert its presence in Syria by backing Alshara. Sinan Ciddi, a fellow at the FDD, stated that Turkey sees its interests in Syria as filling the power gap left by Iran.
However, the recent military actions by Israel raised alarms in Ankara, where there are concerns over Turkey’s military readiness against Israel.
“Turkey isn’t in a position to confront Israel militarily. It would be disastrous,” Ciddi warned. The country remains cautious about its outdated military equipment and lack of air defenses. Nevertheless, Turkey is committed to supporting Alshara to gain leverage in the post-war landscape.
He cautioned that any direct military conflict with Israel could lead to diplomatic fallout, necessitating mediation from the U.S. and European allies.
Iran: Waiting and Watching
Even with a significant blow to its military presence in Syria, Iran remains a long-term threat, biding its time to exploit any shortcomings of its adversaries.
“The regime looks for opportunities in the mistakes of others,” remarked Taleblu. “They need not achieve total victory; merely causing others to fail suffices.”
U.S.: Pulling Back but Alert
President Trump has indicated that Syrian affairs “is not our war,” though the administration’s stance has shifted. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is advocating for de-escalation, emphasizing a clearer role for local allies.
“We need to contemplate the costs of a potential collapse in Syria and what that would mean,” remarked Tareble, highlighting significant uncertainties.
