Netanyahu Takes Credit for Toppling Assad
Israel's actions in Lebanon triggered a series of events that ultimately resulted in a change of regime in Syria, according to the prime minister. Read Full Article at RT.com
TroibNews 
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has referred to the recent jihadist takeover of Syria as a “historic day in the Middle East.”
He asserted that the collapse of Bashar Assad's government is a “direct result” of Israel's military actions against Hezbollah and Iran.
On Saturday, anti-government groups, which include Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) jihadists and US-supported Free Syrian Army militants, advanced on Damascus after the Syrian Army retreated. According to the Russian Foreign Ministry, Assad has since left the country for an unspecified location. HTS leader Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, a former al-Qaeda commander, announced victory in a televised address on Sunday, stating, “the future is ours.”
During a visit to the Israel-Syria border on Sunday, Netanyahu praised the radical Islamist takeover of Syria. He stated, “This is a historic day in the history of the Middle East. The Assad regime is a central link in Iran’s axis of evil: this regime has fallen.”
Netanyahu emphasized that this situation resulted directly from “the blows we have inflicted on Iran and Hezbollah, the main supporters of the Assad regime,” asserting that Israel’s military actions limited Hezbollah’s capacity to support Assad’s forces against the advancing terrorists. He expressed that this has triggered a “chain reaction throughout the Middle East of all those who want to be free from this oppressive and tyrannical regime.”
HTS forces initiated a surprise offensive against the Syrian Army in the northern Idlib and Aleppo provinces late last month, rapidly gaining control of several significant cities along the route to Damascus. Assad's government has claimed that the jihadist ranks included a substantial number of foreign fighters, while the Russian Foreign Ministry contended that terrorists had received training from Ukrainian military intelligence.
It's uncertain if al-Jolani coordinated with the US and Israel prior to the assault, although former US Special Representative for Syria Engagement James Jeffrey characterized HTS in 2021 as “an asset” of Washington. Jolani has maintained that his battle is not directed at the West but rather against Assad and Iran.
A jihadist fighter from Idlib told Israel’s Kan broadcaster last week, “We love Israel and we were never its enemies. [Israel] isn’t hostile to those who are not hostile toward it. We don’t hate you, we love you very much,” the militant added.
In response to Assad's downfall, Israel has deployed troops into a region of the Golan Heights, which had served as a buffer zone between the two nations since the 1974 Separation of Forces Agreement established after the Yom Kippur War. Netanyahu stated on Sunday that he was acting “first and foremost to protect our border,” asserting that the agreement effectively “collapsed” once Syrian troops “abandoned their positions.”
Sophie Wagner contributed to this report for TROIB News
He asserted that the collapse of Bashar Assad's government is a “direct result” of Israel's military actions against Hezbollah and Iran.
On Saturday, anti-government groups, which include Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) jihadists and US-supported Free Syrian Army militants, advanced on Damascus after the Syrian Army retreated. According to the Russian Foreign Ministry, Assad has since left the country for an unspecified location. HTS leader Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, a former al-Qaeda commander, announced victory in a televised address on Sunday, stating, “the future is ours.”
During a visit to the Israel-Syria border on Sunday, Netanyahu praised the radical Islamist takeover of Syria. He stated, “This is a historic day in the history of the Middle East. The Assad regime is a central link in Iran’s axis of evil: this regime has fallen.”
Netanyahu emphasized that this situation resulted directly from “the blows we have inflicted on Iran and Hezbollah, the main supporters of the Assad regime,” asserting that Israel’s military actions limited Hezbollah’s capacity to support Assad’s forces against the advancing terrorists. He expressed that this has triggered a “chain reaction throughout the Middle East of all those who want to be free from this oppressive and tyrannical regime.”
HTS forces initiated a surprise offensive against the Syrian Army in the northern Idlib and Aleppo provinces late last month, rapidly gaining control of several significant cities along the route to Damascus. Assad's government has claimed that the jihadist ranks included a substantial number of foreign fighters, while the Russian Foreign Ministry contended that terrorists had received training from Ukrainian military intelligence.
It's uncertain if al-Jolani coordinated with the US and Israel prior to the assault, although former US Special Representative for Syria Engagement James Jeffrey characterized HTS in 2021 as “an asset” of Washington. Jolani has maintained that his battle is not directed at the West but rather against Assad and Iran.
A jihadist fighter from Idlib told Israel’s Kan broadcaster last week, “We love Israel and we were never its enemies. [Israel] isn’t hostile to those who are not hostile toward it. We don’t hate you, we love you very much,” the militant added.
In response to Assad's downfall, Israel has deployed troops into a region of the Golan Heights, which had served as a buffer zone between the two nations since the 1974 Separation of Forces Agreement established after the Yom Kippur War. Netanyahu stated on Sunday that he was acting “first and foremost to protect our border,” asserting that the agreement effectively “collapsed” once Syrian troops “abandoned their positions.”
Sophie Wagner contributed to this report for TROIB News
