The head of the Syrian Islamist rebel group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), Ahmad al-Sharaa, also known as Abu Mohammed al-Julani, spoke today about Israel for the first time since assuming control of the country. Al-Sharaa led the forces that overthrew the Bashar al-Assad regime.
In an interview with Syrian TV, al-Sharaa stated that Israel has “no more excuses” to carry out airstrikes in Syria. He criticized recent Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) operations, calling them breaches of “red lines” that risk unnecessary escalation in the region.
Earlier in the week, Israel launched a significant offensive aimed at dismantling the Syrian military’s strategic assets, including chemical weapons facilities, missile systems, air defenses, and naval and air force bases. Israel claimed the operation was necessary to prevent these assets from falling into hostile hands.
Israel’s entry into a United Nations-monitored buffer zone on the Golan Heights, shortly after HTS forces captured Damascus, has drawn some international criticism. Israel maintained that this move was defensive and temporary, intended solely to secure the border region.
The rebel leader appealed to the global community to take action to prevent further escalation and uphold Syria’s sovereignty. Without explicitly naming Israel, he stressed the importance of “diplomatic solutions” to ensure peace and stability over “reckless military actions.”
In a video statement addressed to Syria’s emerging government, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu explained that recent IDF strikes targeted key military assets left behind by the Assad regime. “So that they won’t fall into the hands of the jihadists,” Netanyahu clarified.
He added that Israel was open to building ties with the new Syrian leadership but warned that any threats against Israel or the return of Iranian influence in Syria would prompt swift action. “We have no intention of interfering in the internal affairs of Syria,” he said, “but we certainly do intend to do what is necessary to ensure our security.”
Responding indirectly, al-Sharaa noted in his Saturday interview that Syria’s primary focus is reconstruction and stability after years of war. “Syria is exhausted,” he said, emphasizing that the country cannot afford to be drawn into further conflicts.
He acknowledged that Iran’s presence in Syria posed serious risks to the country and the region, including neighboring Gulf states. “We were able to end the Iranian presence in Syria, but we are not enemies of the Iranian people,” he stated.
Al-Sharaa discussed priorities for Syria’s future governance, emphasizing the need to replace the “revolutionary mentality” with modern institutions, the rule of law, and respect for all citizens’ rights. He also promised to expose the Assad regime’s corruption, claiming that it had managed the country like a “farm,” extracting wealth for personal gain.
He praised the swift and coordinated effort that toppled Assad in just 11 days. “The rebels took control of large cities without anyone being displaced,” he said, though he admitted internal divisions and foreign interference among rebel groups remain a challenge.
Regarding Russia’s limited air campaign in the days before Assad’s downfall, al-Sharaa expressed concerns about parallels to Gaza’s situation but suggested the regime change could pave the way for a recalibration of ties with Moscow.
While visiting Israeli forces stationed on the Golan Heights, IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi reiterated Israel’s stance of non-interference. “We are not interfering with what’s happening in Syria. We have no intention of running Syria,” he stated. Halevi emphasized that Israel’s actions were focused on ensuring border security and preventing extremist elements from establishing a presence near Israel.
The Assad regime, which was in power for over five decades, began with Hafez al-Assad’s coup in 1970 and continued under Bashar al-Assad from 2000 until his recent ouster. Israel and Syria have never established diplomatic relations and have formally been at war since Israel’s founding in 1948.
Syria joined other Arab nations in attacking Israel during the 1948 War of Independence. Despite signing an armistice in 1949, the two countries remained hostile. Syria launched additional attacks during the 1967 Six-Day War, leading to Israel’s capture of the Golan Heights, which it later annexed. Syria’s failed assault during the 1973 Yom Kippur War led to the 1974 disengagement agreement, establishing demilitarized zones along the border.
The fall of the Assad regime presents both challenges and opportunities. While there is potential for historic reconciliation between Israel and Syria, the resulting power vacuum could also lead to instability and the resurgence of terrorism in the region.
{Matzav.com}
Never trust a jihadist. His desire for peace” is only because he lacks the military power at present to project beyond syia’s borders.
The fact is the Syrians welcomed the rebels with open hands and dancing. But the problem is that ISIS decided to join them.