Israeli Official Warns Al-Julani He Cannot Act Like His Predecessor After Syria Strikes

Following Israeli airstrikes on targets in northwestern Syria's Tartus province, a senior Israeli official spoke to American media explaining the rationale behind the operation. The strikes, which targeted a Syrian Air Force base including runways and storage facilities near the Mediterranean coast, were carried out after Israel received sensitive and classified intelligence shared with top U.S. officials. The Israeli official emphasized that the attacks sent a clear message to Hayat Tahrir al-Sham leader Abu Mohammad al-Julani that he cannot behave like the previous regime.

The timing of the strikes came shortly after Russian President Vladimir Putin and al-Julani agreed on the return of Russian military presence to Syria, specifically in the Tartus region. This marks a significant development for Putin, reshaping Russia's influence in the Middle East. The Russian military presence in Syria had diminished considerably after the fall of Bashar al-Assad, whose regime heavily relied on Russian support. Al-Julani, who replaced Assad, has met with Putin multiple times, including a January meeting discussing military and economic matters, despite requesting Russia to extradite Assad from Moscow, a request Putin denied.

The U.S. envoy to Syria and Lebanon, Tom Barrett, condemned the Israeli strikes. The operation reflects ongoing regional tensions and the complex interplay between Syrian factions, Russian interests, and Israeli security concerns.