Israel’s True Objectives in Syria

On February 27, Abdullah Öcalan, the founding leader of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), called for the dissolution of the organization and the laying down of arms, a move that had significant regional implications.

Just days after this step, which could affect Turkey’s balances in Iraq, Iran, and Syria, Israel responded by declaring its support for the Kurds, Druze, and Alawites in Syria.

Israel’s Ministry of Defense and Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that any intervention by the Syrian government against a small group of armed Druze who refuse to surrender their weapons and are engaging in confrontations with government forces would be met with an Israeli attack on Damascus.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar did not stop there; he issued a threat to the Syrian government, warning it not to act hostilely toward the Kurds, Druze, and Alawites. These statements were accompanied by military escalation, with the Israeli army targeting nearly 100 sites inside Syria over the course of two days.

Israel Seeks to Destabilize Syria

It appears that the rise of the Ahmad al-Sharʿi government following the Syrian revolution, and its widespread regional acceptance—except for Iran—was not welcomed by Israel.

However, what troubled Israel more was the unprecedented growing Turkish influence in Syria and the region, along with the pressure on the Syrian wing of the PKK, represented by the Democratic Union Party (PYD), to lay down its arms.

Although the PYD has received military support from the United States, it also maintains close ties with Israel. Elham Ahmad, the head of foreign relations for the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF)—which includes factions that originated from the PKK—has previously stated that Israel must be part of the solution to ensure the security of Syria and the Middle East.

In reality, Israel aims to prevent Syria from regaining stability and strength by leveraging the Druze in the south, the Alawites on the coast, and the Kurds in the north.

Another of Israel’s objectives is to counter the growing Turkish influence. Israeli and Western analysts and think tanks confirm that the expansion of Turkish influence threatens Israeli interests in the region.

Attempts to Contain Turkish Influence

The Syrian revolution led to a reshaping of the regional landscape, with countries like Lebanon, Iraq, Jordan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE aligning with Damascus. The American and Israeli pressure on Egypt, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia to accept Palestinian refugees displaced from Gaza further strengthened this regional alliance.

However, Turkey, which had supported the Syrian opposition for years, suddenly found itself in a new reality that granted it unprecedented influence extending even to Israel’s borders.

Tel Aviv’s concerns intensified after the Lebanese prime minister’s announcement in Ankara about the start of a new phase in bilateral relations, sparking Israeli fears of Turkey’s growing role in the region.

The PKK’s announcement of its intention to dissolve the organization and lay down arms further strengthened Turkey’s position. Iraq, which had long been an area of Israeli influence, welcomed these developments. To counter this, Israel intensified its efforts to destabilize Syria by exploiting the minority card.

On March 2, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar stated, “The Syrian regime was not elected by its people; it is a group of jihadists who seized Idlib, then stormed Damascus and other areas by force. They have no right to persecute minorities like the Druze, Kurds, or Alawites.”

On March 1, the Israeli Ministry of Defense issued a statement stating that “Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant had given orders to prepare to protect the Druze in the Jaramana neighborhood of Damascus, who had been attacked by Syrian regime forces.”

Do the Druze Support Israel?

Experts discussing the Syrian file assert that the Druze card being waved by Israel is a mere bluff and lacks any credibility on the ground.

Levent Kemal, editor-in-chief of Clash Report, specializing in Syrian affairs, states, “It is true that some Druze have relatives in Israel who work in the military or as laborers, but they are isolated from the larger Druze community in Syria, Lebanon, and Jordan.”

Druze religious and political leaders, most notably Walid Jumblatt, have confirmed their commitment to standing by Damascus, making any Druze-Israeli alliance nearly impossible.

Dr. Mustafa Ekici, a researcher specializing in Syrian opposition and ethnic composition, believes that Israel’s reliance on the Druze is futile, explaining: “All the major Druze families reject cooperation with Israel. Even in the Golan Heights, only a few small villages accept Israeli citizenship, while the rest of the Druze are Arabs who refuse any alliance with Tel Aviv.”

At the same time, as tensions between Damascus and Tel Aviv rose, Druze leader Walid Jumblatt announced his intention to visit the Syrian capital to meet with President Ahmad al-Sharʿi, in a step aimed at reaffirming the Druze’s commitment to supporting the Syrian state and rejecting any suspicious alliances with Israel.

Can the Alawites and Kurds Ally with Israel?

Israel is also attempting to woo the Alawites and Kurds to its side against Damascus. However, according to analyst Levent Kemal, Alawites in Syria have suffered from marginalization for decades, and even under Assad, their economic and social conditions were poor, so they have no interest in getting involved in any new conflict.

Dr. Mustafa Ekici believes that while Israel may find some acceptance within the Syrian Kurdish People’s Defense Units (YPG), it will not be able to rally the Kurds against Damascus, explaining: “After years of conflict, the Kurds do not want to ignite a new front, especially since the majority of active forces in Syria, including Arabs, support the al-Sharʿi government. There are also divisions within the YPG over Abdullah Öcalan’s call to dissolve the organization.”

He adds, “Israel is unable to provide direct field support to the YPG, making its plan unfeasible on the ground.”

The Trump-Erdogan Meeting Will Decide the Matter

For Washington, Syria is no longer economically attractive, as its oil resources are limited compared to Ukraine, where the U.S. is looking to secure vast wealth. However, Israel has succeeded in convincing Washington, through its lobbying efforts, that a U.S. withdrawal from Syria will open the door for Turkey to expand its influence at Israel’s expense.

Therefore, Israel is currently working to create an internal crisis in Syria by fueling sectarian issues, aiming to keep Washington engaged in the Syrian file. Despite these maneuvers, the realities on the ground seem unfavorable for the Israeli plan.

Turkey, for its part, is trying to convince Trump to reach a political settlement that integrates the YPG into the new Syrian army, ensuring regional stability without the need for military confrontation. According to observers, the upcoming meeting between Erdogan and Trump will determine the course of events in Syria, leading to one of two possibilities:

• • Turkey launches a military operation against the YPG.

• • The organization is peacefully integrated into the new Syrian system.

If the YPG adopts a rational perspective, it will not bet on Israel, which has only brought destruction to the region. Instead, it will seek to build a shared future with Syria and Turkey.