How Israeli Covert Activities in Syria Aim to Undermine Its New Government

Syria fell from Bashar al-Assad, heralded a new political era, one dominated by instability and intense regional scrutiny. But for Israel, the rising of President Ahmed al-Sharaa was particularly troubling news. Sharaa’s former leadership of an Islamist militant group previously linked to al-Qaeda has colored Israel’s view of the new Syrian regime as a potential long-term security threat. Israel officials also worry that: if Sharaa succeeds, in terms of consolidating power and uniting the country, Syria again will turn into a hostile player willing to challenge Israel in the northeast.

Under these preoccupations, Israel has taken a policy of seeking to set trends inside Syria that are shaped by the occupied territory but not by direct occupation or open competition. Central to this strategy has been underground support of Druze communities in southern Syria. Israel first provided weapons, ammunition, and military equipment to Druze militias, after which it made non-lethal assistance, such as body armor, medicines, intelligence sharing, and steady cash payments, more commonplace. Such measures strengthened local actors against Damascus and helped to prevent rapid centralization of power under the new Syrian leadership.

 Israel has appealed to security imperatives as well as its long-standing ties to the Druze, a religiously faithful minority closely linked with Israel’s military and political institutions. The Druze in Israel are generally considered loyal citizens and natural allies, and the perception of them has shaped policy toward their cross-border neighbours. In backing Druze militias, Israel not only aims to defend a precarious minority but also maintain strategic leverage within Syria so that a buffer against potentially hostile forces can exist.

 This policy, however, has caused friction with the United States. Washington has generally backed Sharaa, seeing him as a practical playmaker willing to stabilize Syria following the years of civil fighting, diminish regional conflict, help refugees to return and curb the Iranian impact. From the American angle, Israeli airstrikes and clandestine support for separatist or autonomous forces jeopardize diplomatic efforts and lengthen instability. Israeli leaders mount a rebuttal, noting that such optimism fails to consider Sharaa’s ideological background and the experience of previous regional conflicts, emphasizing that caution and deterrence are still crucial.

Israel has moderated parts of its stance in recent months by scaling back weapons shipments and being more open to negotiating with Damascus. Yet it has continued to supply some aid and finance to Druze forces, suggesting a reluctance to give up its sway entirely. In total, the article portrays that Israel’s ultimate goal is neither immediate unity nor stability in Syria, but rather the prevention of a strong centralized, and possibly hostile, regime on the border. Israel is able to manage risks and maintain strategic flexibility in a volatile environment in the region by sustaining a degree of fragmentation and keeping some existing allies within Syria.

SOURCE: https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/12/23/israel-covert-activities-syria-druze/