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James Jeffrey, former U.S. Ambassador to Ankara, former U.S. Special Envoy for Syria, and Chair of the Middle East Program at the Wilson Center, delivered strong criticism of Israel’s recent actions in Syria, warning of potential consequences that could destabilize the entire region.
Speaking about Israel’s support for Druze groups and its military interventions against the Damascus government, Jeffrey said:
“It is unclear what Israel is trying to achieve in Syria. These moves may ultimately harm its own interests.”
Jeffrey highlighted that the Damascus administration under Ahmad al-Sharaa has been “fundamentally opposed to Iran’s presence in Syria for 14 years” and warned that Israel’s aggressive approach could undermine a regime aligned against Tehran.
“Israel’s actions risk weakening a government that has resisted Iranian influence. This would be counterproductive to Israel’s own security interests,” he said.
Jeffrey cautioned that external support for a separate Druze military force in the south could inspire other ethnic and sectarian groups—such as Alawites in the west—to demand similar autonomy.
“This could pave the way for the collapse of the Syrian state. A renewed civil war, similar to what we saw from 2011 to 2025, is a real possibility,” he warned.
Jeffrey also commented on the U.S.-backed SDF terrorist organization dominated by the PKK/YPG terrorist organization, saying, “If the SDF terrorist organization strays from the plan of reintegration with the Syrian state, they will lose U.S. support. Washington’s backing is not unconditional.”
Referring to the PKK’s situation in Türkiye, Jeffrey stated, “The term 'irreversible' used by Turkish officials to describe the end of the armed phase is accurate. I’ve heard the same from Kurdish sources. The PKK terrorist organization has failed militarily—continuing armed struggle no longer makes sense.”
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