The collapse of the Assad regime in Syria was a significant achievement for Israel, as it dealt a severe blow to the Iran-led axis and disrupted the Iranian supply route to Hezbollah in Lebanon. However, Syria’s future still presents challenges for Israel. After Assad’s fall, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) took control of Damascus and large parts of Syria, with Abu Mohammad al-Golani declaring himself president. This development poses a new challenge for Israel for several reasons: HTS is a designated terrorist organization, originating from Jabhat al-Nusra, the former Syrian branch of al-Qaeda. Its ideology is deeply hostile toward Jews and Israel. Furthermore, HTS’s rule is backed by Turkey and Qatar, both of which support Hamas and have expressed hostile rhetoric against Israel. In addition, Syria remains in a state of political, economic, and social instability, with multiple armed groups still active, making the new Syrian government just as unpredictable—and potentially as dangerous—as Assad’s regime.

Israel and the Kurds: Shared Interests

There are many armed groups in Syria, but three main and powerful factions control large areas of territory: Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the Syrian National Army, and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).

HTS, as mentioned........

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