Syrian President Al-Julani Reinvents Nation, Seeks Western Ties
Syrian President Ahmad Al-Julani has dramatically transformed Syria's international standing in the months since his rebel coalition seized Damascus and ousted the Assad regime. Once an international pariah, Syria is now a diplomatic hub, with Al-Julani, who began his career in global jihadist organizations, spearheading a complete political reversal since becoming president in January 2025.
His efforts have included three meetings with U.S. President Donald Trump, a historic visit to the White House in November 2025, and hosting French President Emmanuel Macron in Damascus. These overtures led the U.S. to lift economic sanctions on Syria and remove it from the list of state sponsors of terrorism in August 2026.
Concurrently, Damascus has adopted a cautious and conciliatory stance towards Israel. "We do not intend to enter into a confrontation with Israel, nor to wage a campaign against it, nor will we allow Syria to be used as a launching point for attacks against Tel Aviv," Al-Julani declared upon taking power. While the IDF secured buffer zones in the Syrian Golan and Mount Hermon for demilitarization, Syria strictly avoided military friction. Under U.S. auspices, Syrian and Israeli officials began negotiation rounds in Paris, Azerbaijan, and Jordan, aimed at establishing de-escalation mechanisms. These meetings involved Israeli Minister Ron Dermer and Mossad Chief Roman Gofman, alongside Syrian Foreign Minister Assad Al-Shibani. Al-Julani even suggested a security agreement could pave the way for a peace accord.
Syria has also dramatically shifted its relationship with the Iranian axis, launching a severe crackdown on Hezbollah. The regime has exposed terrorist cells planning assassinations of its leaders and intercepted weapons convoys from Lebanon and Iraq, seizing Kornet missiles and hundreds of explosive drones. Despite rhetoric supporting the Palestinian cause, Syrian security forces arrested prominent Islamic Jihad figures Khaled Khaled and Abu Ali Yasser, as well as Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine Secretary-General Talal Naji, shortly before Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas visited Damascus. Hamas, seeking to mend ties with Syria, has been completely ignored by the new regime.
Al-Julani is also combating Sunni terrorist groups, leading to Syria's official joining of the international coalition against ISIS. In response, ISIS has called for attacks against the regime, carried out bombings in Damascus, and was behind two assassination attempts on the Syrian president. To control extremist elements, the regime integrated approximately 3,500 foreign fighters into the regular army and dismantled the Huras al-Din organization. However, pockets of extremism persist, and in the initial months of his rule, loss of control over some forces led to massacres of around 1,700 Alawites and dozens of Druze. Al-Julani condemned these events and ordered investigations.
According to the Amit Institute for Terror and Intelligence Research, Syria's urgent need for Western aid, particularly for infrastructure reconstruction by foreign companies, is a top priority for the new regime. This anti-terrorism policy, both declared and practical, is seen as essential for establishing ties with Western nations. The institute believes this reliance on Western aid acts as a significant restraint against any pursuit of a jihadist-terror agenda. The pragmatic adaptation of Syrian leadership combined with deep dependence on Western aid is unlikely to diminish soon, given the extensive reconstruction needs and the potential for Syria to serve as an alternative oil transit route. This reality reduces the likelihood of Syria promoting a state-sponsored terror agenda or posing a direct terror threat to Israel in the foreseeable future. However, a successful attack on Al-Julani by jihadist groups could empower more extreme elements, potentially reviving questions about the Syrian regime's commitment to counter-terrorism.
