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FM Sa'ar's statement regarding the situation in Syria

Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs

FM Sa'ar: "I raise the question: What else needs to happen for the international community to make its voice heard? What else needs to happen? What are we still waiting for?"

Press Releases
Foreign Policy
16.07.2025

Minister of Foreign Affairs Gideon Sa'ar's today (Wednesday, 16 July 2025) issued a statement to the media regarding the situation in Syria. Following are excerpts of his remarks (Translated):

"Regarding the recent events in Syria:

What are we actually seeing here?

*We are seeing a recurring phenomenon of persecution of minorities to the point of murder and pogroms in Syria. Sometimes it is the regime's forces. Sometimes it is Jihadist militias (that are the basis of the regime). And usually - it is both. But in the end, let's see what happened in under six months:

Initially - mass murders against the Alawites in northwestern Syria, on a very large scale. I was very amused at the time by the Syrian regime's statement that they would establish an independent commission of inquiry to investigate those events. By the way, maybe you heard about it since then - but I have not heard what the conclusions of that "independent" commission were so far.

But we see the same things continuing towards all minorities in Syria. Towards the Kurds - there are constant acts of hostility in the northern part of Syria.

Yesterday, an ancient church was burned down by militants in the northern province of As-Suweyda.

I would like to remind you that just a week ago, there was a very serious attack on another church, carried out by ISIS, also in Syria.

And of course, we see this even more strongly in the last two days against the Druze community. There was such a wave (of violence against them) before, two and a half months ago, in the Damascus area, which ended after our actions, both politically and militarily.

But now, what is happening in As-Suwayda - you have all seen very difficult images of the murder of civilians, of the humiliation of civilians.

And I raise the question: What else needs to happen for the international community to make its voice heard? What else needs to happen? What are we still waiting for?

Our interests in Syria are known, limited and clear. First of all - to maintain the status quo in the southern Syrian region, which is also close to our border. And to prevent the development of threats against Israel in this area.

The second thing - to prevent harm to the Druze community, with which we have a bold and strong relationship - with the Druze citizens here in Israel.

I just want to remind you: This is not a democratically elected regime. Because sometimes, when I am in political meetings, people talk to me about the "transition". This is not an elected regime at all. This is a regime that by force descended from Idlib to the Damascus area, taking advantage of certain conditions, and took control by force. The constitution, of course undemocratic, that it formulated, was rejected by large parts of Syria.

As mentioned, we are not going to delve into all these things. I have just defined the interests, the harm to which we cannot, in our opinion, pass over.

And I am convinced - even if for a certain period of time it seems otherwise, that if the regime in Damascus does not come to its senses, it will ultimately move away from all the main goals it has set for itself. Primarily: governance and economic prosperity.

Therefore, it would be good for it to come to its senses and to restore order."