Israel to hold its ground in Syria as Al-Sharaa’s regime remains uncertain

Israel will continue to hold its positions in Syria with the backing of the Trump administration, despite growing pressure from the European Union (EU) and the United Nations (UN). 

According to a Jerusalem Post report published Thursday, the U.S. administration will support Israel in maintaining a buffer zone in Syria for the foreseeable future.

While the EU and UN are making diplomatic strides toward normalizing relations with the new Syrian regime under Ahmed al-Sharaa, including discussions at a major summit in Paris on Thursday, Israel remains skeptical. 

Officials in Jerusalem fear that al-Sharaa’s government could be a “wolf in sheep’s clothing”, hiding its true intentions.

Despite international efforts to push for a withdrawal, Israel is confident that as long as it has Trump’s backing, it can resist external pressure and maintain a strategic buffer zone in Syria.

A key factor reinforcing this position is that al-Sharaa has not committed to holding elections before at least four years. From Israel’s perspective, this delay means that by the end of 2025, the true nature of the new Syrian regime will still be uncertain, making any calls for withdrawal premature.

While Trump has signaled his desire to reduce American involvement in Syria and withdraw remaining U.S. troops, this does not affect his support for Israel's military presence in the region. 

The IDF is expected to stay in the buffer zone for an extended period, ensuring that Israel’s security interests remain protected.