Israeli Foreign Minister: Syrian Rulers are 'Unselected Jihadists'

Gideon Sa'ar, Israel's Foreign Minister, referred to the new rulers of Syria led by Ahmad al-Shara, the country's transitional president, as 'a few jihadists' who are 'not elected by the Syrian people.' On Sunday, March 3, during a press conference in Jerusalem, Sa'ar emphasized Israel's determination to protect the Druze community residing in southern Syria, stating that the new Syrian regime 'has no right' to be hostile towards the country's minorities, including Druze, Kurds, and others. Following deadly violence between Syrian government forces and the Druze, two senior Israeli officials; Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz, announced that Israel might take action to protect the Druze around Damascus. Sa'ar highlighted the importance of respecting 'the rights of minorities' by the new rulers of Damascus, noting that Syria is home to the largest Druze population in the world. The 'Jewish Press' reported in January of this year that Israel is in contact with Syrian Druze who are concerned about potential attacks from Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham. Israel has repeatedly expressed distrust towards 'Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham,' an Islamist group that took control of the Syrian government after the fall of Bashar al-Assad, which was considered a branch of al-Qaeda about nine years ago. Previously, Gideon Sa'ar referred to the new Damascus government in a meeting with members of the Knesset's Foreign Affairs and Security Committee as 'a version of the Idlib government' that does not encompass all Syrian groups. The moment of the Israeli airstrike and the destruction of a weapons depot in southern Syria. Israel's attack on Syrian government positions; Katz: We do not trust Ahmad al-Shara. A warning from the U.S. regarding the 'malicious intent' of the Iranian government to re-establish its presence in Syria. Israeli fighter jets bombed a Hamas weapons depot in Syria. Ahmad al-Shara: The presence of Iranian government forces in Syria posed a threat to the region.