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Militant groups led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham took power in Damascus in December, toppling the government of Bashar Assad
The Syrian transitional government consists of jihadists who are moderating their rhetoric while focusing on gaining international legitimacy, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar has said.
Ahmed al-Sharaa, also known by his nom de guerre Abu Mohammad al-Julani, took power in Damascus in December 2024 after militants led by his group, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), overthrew former President Bashar Assad. The new government has suspended the constitution and announced a transitional period under HTS rule, promising to hold elections within four to five years.
“The new government in Damascus is made up of jihadists and Islamists. It is currently focused on the economy, governance, and gaining legitimacy from the world, and therefore, it is currently speaking politely,” Saar said at a meeting with Moldovan President Maia Sandu in Chisinau on Tuesday.
“This has happened with many Islamist movements that have come to power,” the top Israeli diplomat added.
While Israel’s primary concern is its own security, its main focus remains on Iran, Saar said. However, he stressed the importance of monitoring Türkiye’s actions in the region, noting that “it is clear that Türkiye has the greatest influence on Damascus right now.”
“Türkiye is currently the most dominant country in Syria; it aspires to be the leader of Sunni Islam in the region,” he said.
Ankara severed political ties with Damascus in 2011 after the onset of the Syrian civil war and supported some rebel factions throughout the conflict. During the HTS offensive, Turkish forces clashed with Kurdish groups in Syria – factions that Ankara considers terrorist organizations.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan welcomed al-Sharaa in Ankara on Tuesday during the Syrian leader’s second international trip since taking power. Last week, al-Sharaa visited Riyadh for talks with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
Erdogan hailed the “historic visit” as an opportunity for Ankara and Damascus to discuss deepening security and economic cooperation and to build “a period of permanent friendship and cooperation.”
“All our institutions and organizations have been working intensively for the past two months to restore our relations to their former strategic level,” Erdogan said.
Last month, al-Sharaa demanded the withdrawal of Israeli forces from a formerly UN-controlled buffer zone in Syria near the occupied Golan Heights, which the Israel Defense Forces took control of during HTS’s advance in December.
