The Consequence of Compromise: How Damascus Became a Target in Israel’s Strategic Map
Mehr News Agency, International Desk: After Julani’s rise to power, mainstream media portrayed an image of the war-torn Syria’s former president Bashar al-Assad injured and burning atop a government building-symbolizing the dawn of a new era for Syria moving toward “democracy,” “freedom,” and “growth.”
Yesterday’s terrorists-some of whose leaders remain blacklisted by the U.S. and European countries-suddenly transformed into “freedom leaders” and models for anti-American states aiming for a future transition. While reporters focused on Assad opponents’ celebrations, Israeli forces occupied remaining parts of the Golan Heights and began broad crackdowns against Syrian army positions throughout the country.Today, despite receiving support from many regional and international actors, Syria lacks adequate defensive capacity to avoid becoming an easy target for Israel’s war machine.
What Happened?
On Wednesday evening, July 16, 2025, Israel’s Defense Minister yisrael Katz announced the start of painful strikes against syria. The incident originated when Tel Aviv used concerns among Druze populations in occupied Palestine as justification to present itself as thier primary defender in southern Syria. Israel warned Julani’s forces that any heavy military-security presence ther would provoke its response. This narrative caused internal divisions within the Druze community; some began considering Tel Aviv their true regional protector.
Currently, certain Druze leaders seek cordial ties with Damascus; others like Sheikh Hikmat al-Hajri call for resistance against government troops and have requested Israeli support-a stance many Druze leaders oppose. As a notable example, Walid Jumblatt-a prominent political figure among Druze who previously rejected an Israeli version of events regarding Majdal Shams-categorically condemned israeli military operations in southern Syria.
A fresh wave of clashes erupted between Julani’s forces and Druze fighters as Julani pushed troops toward Suwayda province to expand his regime’s influence. Simultaneously Israel warned that any incursion by Julani’s troops into this zone would trigger attacks.
The crossing of Israel’s red line by Julani prompted airstrikes across various Syrian locations by Tel Aviv.Following this initial wave Washington claimed it had brokered a sort of ceasefire in Suwayda whereby Julani’s forces would control checkpoints in return for relative calm. However, on Thursday evening July 17 Julani accused both Druze fighters and Israeli forces of violating this truce through renewed assaults.
Normalization With A Taste Of War
To rulers in Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar alike khaled Al-Julani symbolizes returnees reclaiming influence across the Levant region east of the Mediterranean Sea; these countries promised early sanctions relief upon his ascent while paving Damascus’ path back into global society.
The same nations pledged rapid reconstruction assistance to war-ravaged syria under new governance-while Damascus’ current leadership agreed to flexibilize on core issues such as relinquishing claims over Golan Heights territory-and committed to normalized ties with Israel backed by close security coordination with Washington and Tel Aviv aimed at weakening resistance along Arab eastern fronts.
This context set Friday April 18 ,2025 -when Julani met Republican Congress members Kory Mills and marlin Stutzman-to discuss bilateral matters along with broader regional issues at play.Mills told Bloomberg that lifting Caesar Act sanctions alongside normalizing relations with Israel topped American team talks agenda during negotiations with Julani.This meeting was followed by Saudi mediation enabling cooperation between TrumpandJulani culminating in Caesar Act sanctions repeal announcement.*
The aftermath led most experts toward consensus about imminent normalization between Damascus-Tel Aviv-the only disputes pertained timing or incentives offered Syrians respectively-but last week’s developments overturned these assumptions entirely turning attention away from Abraham Accords-style peace prospects toward speculations over both political futures including even preservation mechanisms surrounding Khaled Al-Julani himself making headlines instead!
Coping With A Country Without An Army
Soon after central authority collapsed inside Damascus uproarious cheers erupted among exiled opposition groups celebrating victory! This campaign reached its zenith when images circulated showing photo ops between JulianI meeting Donald Trump-in addition sanction shadows lifted away via repealing Caesar legislation-but behind scenes one crucial fact went largely overlooked: over five hundred separate strikes executed by Israeli air force targeted critical Syrian air defense-offensive installations wiping out meaningful portions from aerial fleets through maritime units plus radar infrastructure within this Arab nation-state defective defense arrangement severely debilitated national security capabilities fundamentally altering battlefield calculus since then.
Tactically defying remnants under 1974 disengagement accords full control was asserted over entire Golan Heights including Mount hermon complemented deploying elite special units throughout Sweida governorate enforcing occupation effectively consolidating operational environments hostile towards regime loyalists lately subjected particularly harsh treatment especially capital hotspots encompassing Ministry Defense premises Presidential Palace key command centers besides attempted senior official assassinations linked explicitly back directly designated factions allied closely aligned politically along lines supporting thorough pro-Israel axis continued spirals aggression henceforth neither unpredictable nor unusual occurrences anymore attesting further attempts strengthening Netanyahu-led geopolitical dominance strategies spanning western Asia unfold amid proactive gestures signaling accelerating normalization after previous publicized selfies captured simultaneously alongside ostensible mutual recognition following multi-lateral agreements fostering coordinated endeavors warrant gravest attention worldwide observers likewise acknowledge ongoing systemic hostility perpetuated upending potential peaceful resolutions forever frozen until definitive comprehensive settlement genuinely materializes soonest possible time frame available globally today!
