Precisely after the Israeli strike: Al-Shara celebrates a historic achievement
The President of Syria is on the verge of ending Kurdish autonomy in the northeast of the country and unifying the state under his rule. Simultaneously, the Al-Shara regime continues to strengthen following the US decision to remove Syria from the list of state sponsors of terrorism. Opposition activists warn: "The ideology of Al-Qaeda will be embedded in new generations of believers."
Against the backdrop of the recent Israeli strike on the military airport in northwestern Syria, the rule of Ahmad Al-Shara is actually growing stronger. This trend has been contributed to by a number of recent developments, which are now stabilizing the next target of the Syrian president: resolving the issue of the Druze in the southern As-Suwayda province, who still aspire to a degree of autonomy.
The most significant development is the agreement on the dismantling of the SDF (the Syrian Democratic Forces organization, composed mostly of the Kurdish minority) and on the end of Kurdish autonomy in the northeast of the country. In understandings with the Kurdish leaders, General Mazloum Abdi and politician Ilham Ahmed, a compromise was reached regarding the integration of the community's male and female fighters into the Syrian security system. Apparently, the military campaign at the beginning of 2026 succeeded in pushing the Kurds to a crossroads: give up autonomy or risk massacres without American backing.
And yet, according to Arab sources, instead of a complete dismantling of the SDF, about 1,500 Kurdish female fighters will be organized under a counter-terrorism unit. This unit will be subordinate to the Ministry of Interior and will be stationed in the northeastern Al-Hasakah area, where a large concentration of the Kurdish minority is located. In addition, there were reports of the establishment of four brigades of Kurdish fighters, who will be subordinate to the Syrian army. It is worth noting that even for Al-Shara, this is a compromise. In the past, Damascus demanded to integrate the Kurdish fighters separately into the various Syrian units, and not as a whole framework. In practice, the Kurds are keeping their own units, even if they are officially subordinate to the command of the Al-Shara regime.
Eyes are turned to the Druze
On the political level, General Mazloum Abdi is expected to be appointed as a presidential advisor to Al-Shara, and may receive responsibility for the minorities portfolio. Ahmed is expected to be appointed to the Syrian parliament and become a member of the Foreign Affairs Committee. This is a surrender of the dream of autonomy and federation. Al-Shara, for his part, has taken another step toward unifying the Syrian territory under one rule. After his men suppressed the buds of rebellion among the Alawite community and massacred them in March 2025, he succeeded in subjecting the Kurdish minority to his authority. Now, as mentioned, eyes are turned to the Druze.
As of now, the leader of the Druze in southern Syria, Sheikh Hikmat Al-Hijri, does not show signs of compromise. On the contrary, Al-Hijri recently sided again with the independence and sovereignty of the community members in the As-Suwayda area, which he calls the Bashan region. This name is, obviously, appealing to the Israeli ear. Al-Hijri also reiterated his explicit support for Israel, noting that the members of his community are an inseparable part of it. However, renewed tension is emerging in that same area. Recently, there were reports of exchanges of fire in As-Suwayda between Druze gunmen and gunmen on behalf of the security apparatuses of the Al-Shara government.
Meanwhile, the regime in Damascus continues to strengthen internationally. Last week, the US decided to remove the country from the list of state sponsors of terrorism. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said that this step will help encourage additional investments in Syria, thereby promoting political and economic stability. At the same time, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio claimed that the move was carried out in recognition of the "positive steps taken by the government of Syria under President Ahmad Al-Shara, and the commitments it has undertaken to completely distance Syria from acts of international terrorism."
"One of the most dangerous decisions in human history"
Not everyone is satisfied with the embrace of the US. "For years, Washington defined Jabhat al-Nusra or Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham as a terrorist organization, and offered a reward of ten million dollars for information that would lead to the capture of Al-Julani (Al-Shara)," a Syrian activist from the exile organization "Western Syria Alliance" told "HaYom". "Now the definition has been removed and the jihadist leader is receiving the treatment of a head of state. The American taxpayer deserves explanations. Was the assessment wrong for a decade? What fundamentally changed the fact that yesterday's jihadist has now become an acceptable partner?".
Following this, the Syrian activist warned that this is a political decision that does not change the acts of terrorism committed against victims in Syria, Iraq, and Lebanon, and does not change the jihadist ideology, which advocates for the elimination of minorities with different beliefs: "We believe that this decision is one of the most dangerous in the history of humanity. It will allow them to continue their jihadist activity in Syria and around the world, and to cultivate generations of believers in whom the ideology of Al-Qaeda will be embedded. I believe that the lives of innocent people who were killed and will be killed are more important than political compromises or deals of the current American administration."
