Israel’s Foreign Minister, Gideon Saar, has urged Europe to stop legitimizing Syria’s transitional authorities after reports of massacres committed against civilians in the wake of Bashar al-Assad’s overthrow. In an interview with Germany’s Bild newspaper, Saar warned that the new Syrian leadership, led by Ahmed al-Sharaa, is rooted in jihadist extremism and is already carrying out brutal atrocities.
“Europe must not fail in reading the reality,” Saar told Bild.
“It must wake up. It must stop granting legitimacy to a regime whose first actions—unsurprising, given its well-known terrorist background—are these atrocities.
Mass Killings as Syria’s New Leadership Consolidates Power
Clashes erupted on Thursday between Syria’s new security forces and loyalists of the former Assad regime, particularly along the Mediterranean coast in Latakia and Tartus, the heartland of the Alawite minority. The violence escalated into mass killings, with the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reporting that 745 Alawite civilians were murdered in what is being described as the worst violence since al-Assad’s downfall.
The overall death toll has now surpassed 1,018, including:
- 125 members of Syria’s new security forces
- 148 fighters still loyal to al-Assad
Despite calls for stability and reconstruction, the new Syrian authorities, led by al-Sharaa and the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) group, have been accused of committing war crimes against civilians, raising concerns about the West’s hasty embrace of the new leadership.
Israel’s Warning: “They Were Jihadists and Remain Jihadists”
Saar sharply criticized European nations that have begun re-engaging with Syria’s new rulers, despite their terrorist past. He pointed out that the EU has already eased sanctions on Syria’s energy, banking, and transport sectors, signaling a softening stance toward the new regime.
“The international community in general, and Europe in particular, has flocked to Damascus in recent months to shake hands with Syrian leader Ahmed al-Sharaa,” Saar stated.
“However, (al-Sharaa) and his men were jihadists and remain jihadists, even if they now wear suits.”
Saar condemned the HTS-led government for mercilessly massacring its own people, stating that the events of this weekend exposed the true nature of Syria’s new rulers.
HTS: A Jihadist Group Now in Power
HTS, the group that led the swift offensive that toppled Assad in December 2024, was formerly the Syrian branch of al-Qaeda. It remains designated as a terrorist organization by multiple countries, including the United States.
Despite its past, the new Syrian government has been lobbying Western nations to ease sanctions, portraying itself as a moderate alternative to Assad’s regime. Last month, the European Union relaxed sanctions on Syria, hoping to facilitate post-war reconstruction. However, the massacre of Alawite civilians has cast serious doubt on whether HTS can be trusted.
Israel’s Role in Post-Assad Syria
Since Assad’s downfall, Israel has deployed forces to the Golan Heights, reinforcing the UN-patrolled buffer zone that has separated Israeli and Syrian forces since 1974. At the same time, Israeli airstrikes have repeatedly targeted Syrian military sites, preventing Iranian-backed militias from regaining a foothold.
Israel remains deeply concerned that Syria’s new leaders will allow Iran and other terrorist groups to reassert influence, continuing the long-standing threat against Israel’s northern border.
