Netanyahu Issues Stern Warning to Syrian Leader Over Southern Province
According to the International Desk of Webangah News Agency, Israeli media outlet i24NEWS reported on July 16, 2025, that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made a threatening phone call to Abu Muhammad al-Julani, the self-proclaimed president of Syria. During the call, Netanyahu demanded the immediate withdrawal of Syrian forces from the Suwayda province and warned al-Julani that Israeli attacks would escalate if the demand was not met. Al-Julani requested a 48-hour deadline to address the situation, but Netanyahu rejected this proposal.
According to the i24NEWS report, Netanyahu warned al-Julani, referencing what he termed as “genocide against the Druze people,” stating that his forces must vacate Suwayda by 10 PM that same day. This occurred on the same day that Israel conducted strikes against targets in Damascus, including positions associated with al-Julani’s Ministry of Defense.
Al-Julani responded to Netanyahu by stating, “I had hoped this conversation would proceed differently.”
Following the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s government and the rise of Ahmad al-Shar’i (al-Julani), there were increased movements and contacts aimed at cooperation with the Israeli regime. However, this trend did not prevent the continuation and escalation of Israeli military attacks on Syrian territory.
The Israeli regime, through expanded airstrikes targeting Syrian infrastructure and military positions, demonstrated that even political developments in Damascus and efforts to engage with Tel Aviv have been unable to halt the regime’s attacks.
