(MENAFN) Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has asserted that the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s government in Syria is a “direct result” of Israel’s military actions against Hezbollah and Iran. Netanyahu made the statement after anti-government forces, including jihadist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and US-backed Free Syrian Army militants, stormed Damascus on Saturday. The Syrian Army reportedly stood down, and Assad, according to the Russian Foreign Ministry, fled the country for an undisclosed location. On Sunday, HTS leader Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, a former al-Qaeda commander, declared victory in a televised statement, proclaiming that “the future is ours.”
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Speaking at the Israel-Syria border, Netanyahu hailed the radical Islamist group's takeover of Syria, calling it “a historic day in the history of the Middle East.” He described the fall of the Assad regime as a significant blow to Iran’s influence in the region, referring to it as a key part of Iran’s “axis of evil.” Netanyahu claimed that Israel’s strikes on Iranian targets and its military campaign against Hezbollah in Lebanon played a crucial role in weakening Assad’s ability to defend his regime against the advancing jihadists.

The offensive by HTS, which began late last month in the northern Idlib and Aleppo provinces, quickly captured several key cities along the route to Damascus. Assad’s government has maintained that foreign fighters have bolstered the jihadist ranks, with Russia alleging that Ukrainian military intelligence had trained the terrorists. While it remains unclear whether al-Jolani coordinated with the US or Israel, former US envoy James Jeffrey described HTS in 2021 as “an asset” for Washington, though al-Jolani himself has denied any opposition to the West, stating that his fight is primarily with Assad and Iran.

A jihadist fighter from Idlib recently told Israel’s Kan broadcaster that he did not view Israel as an enemy, saying, “We love Israel and we were never its enemies.” Meanwhile, Israel has seized the opportunity to move troops into the Golan Heights region, which had served as a buffer zone between the two nations since the 1974 Separation of Forces Agreement. Netanyahu emphasized that the Syrian troop withdrawal had led to the collapse of the agreement, prompting Israel to take defensive action to protect its border.

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