Israeli Concerns Grow on Ukraine Crisis Derailing Operations in Syria

Missile fire is seen from Damascus, Syria May 10, 2018. (Reuters)
Missile fire is seen from Damascus, Syria May 10, 2018. (Reuters)
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Israeli Concerns Grow on Ukraine Crisis Derailing Operations in Syria

Missile fire is seen from Damascus, Syria May 10, 2018. (Reuters)
Missile fire is seen from Damascus, Syria May 10, 2018. (Reuters)

At a time when the Israeli government is trying to show a neutral stance towards the Ukrainian crisis, fearing the wrath of Russia or the US, senior security sources revealed that such a conflict will inevitably affect Israel, especially in its conflict with Iran and its military activities in Syria.

So far, Israel has kept to urging thousands of its citizens to leave Ukraine.

Israeli analyst for the Hebrew newspaper Maariv, Tal Lev-Ram, cited sources as saying that “Israel is not a central player in the battle between major forces currently taking place in Ukraine.”

“Nevertheless, a war erupting in Europe will dramatically affect strategic issues,” the sources added.

“On the nuclear issue, the crisis in Ukraine comes at a critical stage due to negotiations held by major powers with Iran.”

“Israel is watching with concern how Iran continues to advance - slowly but efficiently - with its nuclear program.”

According to Lev-Ram’s report, security generals assert that “Iran today is far from being at the top of the Biden administration’s priorities, and the confrontation with the Russians will push it more and more away from the US agenda.”

Iran will exploit this well in its favor and allow itself to carry out bolder steps in its nuclear program.

Even though Israel considers Russia a fair player when it comes to handling Iran’s nuclear ambitions, its security agencies fear that a crisis in Ukraine would push Moscow closer to Iran thereby straining the Israeli army’s operations in Syria.



Syria’s Sharaa Urges the US to Lift Sanctions

FILE - Syria's interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa, looks on during a joint press conference with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at the presidential palace in Ankara, Turkey, Feb. 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco, File)
FILE - Syria's interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa, looks on during a joint press conference with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at the presidential palace in Ankara, Turkey, Feb. 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco, File)
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Syria’s Sharaa Urges the US to Lift Sanctions

FILE - Syria's interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa, looks on during a joint press conference with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at the presidential palace in Ankara, Turkey, Feb. 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco, File)
FILE - Syria's interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa, looks on during a joint press conference with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at the presidential palace in Ankara, Turkey, Feb. 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco, File)

Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa has urged the United States to lift sanctions and alluded to the possibility of future military support from Russia and Türkiye.

Over a 45-minute interview with The New York Times, al-Sharaa made a plea to Washington to lift sanctions, saying it would be logical now that the old government is out.

“The sanctions were implemented as a response to crimes committed by the previous regime against the people,” he said.

Last month, American officials listed eight demands for lifting sanctions, according to two officials with knowledge of the issue. They include destroying any remaining chemical weapons stores and cooperating on counterterrorism efforts.

Al-Sharaa said that some American conditions “need to be discussed or modified” and declined to elaborate further.

He also told The New York Times that his government is negotiating deals with both Türkiye, a longtime political backer, and Russia, a stalwart supporter of Bashar al-Assad when he was in power. He alluded to the possibility of future military support from both.

“Türkiye has a military presence in Syria and Russia also has a military presence. We’ve nullified past agreements between Syria and other countries, and are in the process of developing new ones,” he said. Al-Sharaa appeared open to procuring additional weapons from Russia and other countries.

He also suggested his government would consider giving Syrian citizenship to foreign fighters who have lived in the country for years, are in some cases married to Syrian citizens and “who have stuck beside the revolution.”

Al-Sharaa has sought to assuage concerns, pledging to prevent Syrian land from being used to threaten any foreign country.

“Syria has been committed from the beginning, before we reached Damascus, to preventing its land from being used in any way that can threaten any foreign country,” he said.