By Yiğit Saner
Speaking to Israel’s public broadcaster KAN, Middle East expert Mordechai Kedar relayed messages of “goodwill” from HTS to Israel. Kedar, a former officer in Israeli Military Intelligence, emphasized that the HTS militants view Israel “not as a problem, but as a solution”. He also stated, “I conveyed a detailed list of equipment requested by HTS to officials in Tel Aviv”. Kedar further noted that he maintains constant communication with “leaders of Syrian opposition groups”.
The former intelligence officer shared the words of a terrorist leader from HTS and its allied factions, asserting that they are “ready for a peace agreement with Israel”. However, he added that “for this to happen, control over Syria and Lebanon must first be established”. So, these armed groups are sending messages to Tel Aviv regarding Lebanon as well as Syria based on their mutual interests and objectives. HTS’s remarks appear to be an open “You can use us” proposal to Tel Aviv. It fits with Israel as it seeks to sever Iran’s connection to Lebanon through Syria and eliminate Hezbollah’s presence in southern Lebanon.
Steven Cook, an analyst at the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR), highlighted this alignment, stating, “Breaking the Iran-Syria axis and weakening the weapons pipeline to Hezbollah will undoubtedly benefit Israel’s security”. He noted that fulfilling this objective seems to be one of HTS’s missions.
Israeli intelligence to Netanyahu: Developments in Syria “positive”
The Times of Israel reported that heads of Israeli intelligence agencies have briefed Prime Minister Netanyahu, describing recent developments in Syria as “positive”. According to the that, security officials informed the Prime Minister: “Hezbollah’s attention will shift toward Syria. (…) These developments will increase the chances of maintaining the ceasefire in Lebanon and enhance our operational capabilities in Syria.”
Moreover, experts, including Israeli analysts, agree that Tel Aviv has facilitated HTS by bombing positions and weapon depots belonging to Hezbollah, the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, and local militias in Syria. Behind closed doors in Tel Aviv, a meeting on Syria was convened, bringing together Netanyahu and senior security officials. The only detail leaked to the press was a statement from a source: “There appear to be opportunities for change here.”
Israel’s public broadcaster KAN conducted an interview with one of the militants involved in the Aleppo offensive. Suheil Hamoud, known by his alias “Abu Tow,” sought to reassure the Israeli public, stating: “My message is this: Don’t worry about Iran and Hezbollah because we are already dealing with them. My brother, you should fear Bashar al-Assad, Iran, and Hezbollah, not us. You’re well aware of the policies of Iran and Assad, which are harsher than those of Islamists.”
It’s worth reminding that militants participating in the Syrian civil war have never targeted Israel or the US. Abu Tow, reportedly a former Syrian officer, has long been fighting alongside radical groups. His nickname is said to derive from his skill in operating the US-developed semi-automatic guided anti-tank missile, the BGM-71 TOW.
Israeli Brigadier General Dadi Samhi, also speaking to KAN, remarked that “the militants’ operations in Syria weakening Damascus remain a positive development.”
Further evidence of Israel’s role in the ongoing dynamics is seen in the statements made by newly appointed Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar, who emphasized cooperation with separatist Kurds in his inaugural address. Similarly, Israel’s bombing of roads leading to Aleppo prior to the recent HTS attacks, coupled with the benefits Tel Aviv derives from these assaults, highlights what is meant by “opportunities for change”. This refers to the plan to merge PKK/YPG forces with HTS to create a terror corridor in northern Syria.
Israeli analyst: Israel’s recent airstrikes, 70 in number, enabled HTS’ offensive
Military analyst Ron Ben-Yishai emphasized that HTS’s offensive was only made possible by Israel’s recent 70 airstrikes in Syria. He explained: “Repeated attacks by the Israeli Air Force targeting the Syrian army, the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, Hezbollah, and other militias relieved pressure on the militants on the ground and enabled them to organize their assault.”
Ben-Yishai noted that these airstrikes targeted not only weapons routes leading to Lebanon, but also depots and facilities belonging to Hezbollah and other Shia militias across Syria. He wrote, “Israel’s consistent strikes allowed the rebels to regroup. He further asserted that the offensive would have positive implications for Israel’s security, weakening both Iran and Hezbollah.
Daniel Rakov, a Senior Research Fellow at the Jerusalem Institute for Strategy and Security and a reserve lieutenant colonel in the Israeli Army, also described the HTS offensive in Aleppo as “good news”. Writing on X, Rakov wrote: “The fall of northern Syria to the rebels will damage the infrastructure of Iran and Hezbollah in the region”. According to Rakov, this development would “expand Israel’s operational space in Syria”.