Category Archives: Israel

08Apr/26

Syria, Israel, and the regional war – what lies ahead?

Israel, Middle East, Syria, , ,

Syria has kept out of the war; its president pledged a stable Syria that could offer partnerships in energy and economy. But all of that might change as Syria may vote to join a war after all. 

Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa attends the Ministry of Awqaf conference titled "Unity of Islamic Discourse" at the Conference Palace in Damascus, Syria, February 16, 2026.

By NIR BOMS, KHALED HOMSI

As missiles continue to fly toward much of the Middle East, Syria remained quiet, successfully keeping itself outside of the current conflagration. Its president just completed state visits in Germany and the UK, where he pledged a new and stable Syria that could offer new partnerships in the fields of energy and economy. But all of that might change as Syria itself may vote to join a war after all. 

The unrest escalated beyond mere street chants. In Damascus, rioters targeted both the U.S. and UAE embassies, causing significant alarm within the diplomatic community. In a formal statement, the UAE called on Syrian authorities to ensure the absolute protection of diplomatic missions and to hold the perpetrators accountable. This campaign, which lasted four consecutive days, bears the distinct marks of an orchestrated pressure campaign designed to corner the new Syrian government and signal possible  support for the Iranian regime and its regional proxies.

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09Jun/25

New Syria in the Making—Challenges and Opportunities for Israel

Israel, Middle East, Syria, , , , ,

Nir Boms and Stephane Cohen, Nexus,

The surprise attack by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which began on November 27, 2024, and resulted in the fall of Damascus in less than two weeks, caught many by surprise—including President Bashar al-Assad, who fled the city on December 7, 2024. Ahmed al-Sharaa, formerly known as Abu Mohammad al-Julani, has so far adopted a pragmatic approach as he seeks to build a new Syria. His vision focuses on creating an inclusive Syrian National Project that aims to guarantee the rights and place of Syria’s diverse ethnic and ideological groups. While this new vision aligns with that of moderate regional partners, the challenges ahead remain immense. A series of ethnic clashes—resulting in two massacres, one in the coastal Alawite region and another targeting the Druze community—raises questions about the ability of the new government to implement a transformed Syria.

Success means creating a power-sharing model, which is the only way to potentially gain the support of most Syrians. But not all seek to share power, and many still doubt the leadership of a former jihadist now backed by Islamists. Six months after Assad’s fall, Israel bombed the new government palace in Damascus for the first time, sending a signal to the new Syrian government that it had not done enough to prevent a massacre in the Druze areas of Damascus. As Israel assesses whether the new Syrian administration is a potential ally or a new enemy, there may still be time to engage with those in Syria committed to building a different future for the country.

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27Mar/25

Syria and Israel: How Jerusalem, Damascus can break the cycle and strive for peace ?

Israel, Middle East, Syria, ,

By NIR BOMS, SHADI MARTINI

Syria and Israel have the rare opportunity to reshape their relations and progress toward peace.

With only two years separating their official births, Israel and Syria have never known a time when they weren’t at odds. Since 1948, the Syrian Arab Republic participated in every major war against the State of Israel, proudly raising the flag of resistance.

Even after signing the 1974 armistice agreement, Syria aligned itself with Iran and Hezbollah, continuing its aggression against Israel through Lebanon and acting as a base for Tehran’s proxies. However, Syria reached a historic turning point on December 8 with the fall of president Bashar al-Assad’s regime and his subsequent flight to Moscow, raising critical questions about Syria’s future, domestically and in terms of regional and international relations.

The new administration in Syria quickly sought to reassure the world and its neighbors, including Israel, that it would not pursue further conflict. Instead, it sought to introduce a pragmatic agenda focused on power-sharing, minority rights, and economic development, which are critically needed in a war-torn country.

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