Syria, once a cornerstone of stability in the Middle East, has now become a country deeply fractured by years of civil war, sectarian violence, and foreign intervention. The fall of President Bashar al-Assad’s government in December marked a significant turning point in the country’s ongoing conflict. Despite this, Syria has remained embroiled in severe unrest, with escalating violence across the nation, along with widespread accusations of atrocities committed by the al-Sharaa government.
In a recent podcast episode, we sat down with Jonathan Spyer, a prominent journalist, senior researcher at the Middle East Forum, and one of Israel's foremost experts on Syria. Jonathan has been at the forefront of analyzing Syria’s complex political landscape, and his expertise on the subject has made him a go-to source for understanding the nuances of the country’s struggles. He spoke with The Jerusalem Post shortly after Assad’s fall, and since then, the situation has only become more complicated. With new flare-ups of violence across Syria, the stakes have never been higher.
In this extended interview, Jonathan takes us through the latest developments, providing crucial insights into the current state of affairs in Syria and how the evolving situation impacts Israel’s security and strategy in the region.
Unpacking the Druze struggle and sectarian conflict in Sweida
One of the most recent flashpoints in Syria has been the eruption of sectarian conflict in the southwestern region of Sweida. The Druze-majority province has witnessed violent clashes, adding another layer of instability to an already fractured country. In this context, Jonathan offers a comprehensive analysis of the Druze community’s role throughout the Syrian Civil War. The Druze, a minority group with a unique religious identity, have faced immense challenges, caught between the regime, opposition forces, and other regional players. Their struggle is a poignant example of how Syria’s civil war has fractured not only the nation’s infrastructure but also its diverse communities.
Following the violence in Sweida, the situation took another turn with Israel’s airstrikes on Damascus and its military personnel. These actions, which have been a part of Israel’s ongoing efforts to limit the Iranian military presence in Syria, have had ramifications beyond the borders of Israel and Syria. In particular, the Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), who control parts of northern Syria, have been closely monitoring Israel’s moves and have their own interests in Syria’s volatile future. Jonathan examines the reactions of the SDF to Israel’s strikes and explores the broader geopolitical dynamics at play, particularly how Israel's security concerns intersect with the actions of the Kurdish forces and their allies.
Throughout this conversation, Jonathan also sheds light on the overarching difficulty of reintegrating a nation as deeply divided and devastated as Syria. With multiple foreign powers—Russia, Iran, the United States, and Turkey—each holding their own stakes in Syria’s future, the process of reconstruction and reconciliation seems almost insurmountable. The challenge for the international community, and for countries like Israel, lies in finding a way to support Syria’s return to stability without further exacerbating the conflict or compromising regional security.
In this episode, join Yuval and Jonathan as they explore the complexities of the Syrian civil war, its impact on Israel’s national security, and the broader Middle Eastern geopolitical landscape. Together, they analyze the long-term implications of a fractured Syria, where violence continues to flare, and where the hope for reintegration seems far off.