On June 16, 2025, posts on X reported that Syria’s President Ahmed al-Sharaa has authorized Israeli and pro-Israel forces to use Syrian airspace to intercept Iranian drones and missiles, marking a significant shift in regional dynamics. This development follows the collapse of the Assad regime in December 2024, which ended decades of Iranian influence in Syria. Al-Sharaa, a former rebel leader with ties to Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), has been navigating a complex transition, balancing domestic stabilization with international diplomacy. His decision to allow Israeli operations in Syrian airspace reflects a pragmatic move to align with Western and regional powers while countering Iran’s lingering presence.
The decision comes amid heightened tensions, with Israel conducting frequent airstrikes in Syria to target Iranian-backed assets. Since Assad’s ouster, Israel has maintained a military presence in southern Syria’s buffer zone, citing security concerns. Al-Sharaa’s authorization aligns with his broader efforts to reduce Iranian influence, as evidenced by his reported actions to expel Iran-backed Palestinian groups and limit Iranian visas. In a May 2025 meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump in Riyadh, al-Sharaa expressed intentions to curb Iran’s role in Syria, a stance that aligns with U.S. and Israeli interests in countering Tehran’s regional ambitions.
This move, however, is not without risks. Al-Sharaa’s government has faced criticism for failing to control extremist factions, with sectarian violence reported in Syria’s coastal regions. Allowing Israeli forces to operate in Syrian airspace could provoke backlash from hardline groups within Syria, including foreign fighters who helped topple Assad but oppose Western alignment. Posts on X highlight mixed sentiments, with some users calling the decision a “major twist” in Middle East politics, while others, citing al-Sharaa’s past al-Qaeda ties, express skepticism about his motives.
Israel’s military operations in Syria have intensified since Assad’s fall, with the IDF targeting weapons depots and infrastructure to prevent them from falling into hostile hands. The authorization of Syrian airspace use could streamline these efforts, allowing Israel to intercept Iranian projectiles more effectively. However, Syria’s foreign ministry has previously condemned Israeli strikes as violations of sovereignty, creating a delicate balancing act for al-Sharaa as he seeks to stabilize his country while engaging with Israel indirectly through mediators.
The international community is watching closely. The U.S. lifted sanctions on Syria in May 2025, with Trump urging al-Sharaa to join the Abraham Accords and normalize ties with Israel. Turkey and Saudi Arabia, key backers of al-Sharaa, have also pushed for Syria’s reintegration into the region. Yet, Iran’s response to this development remains a wildcard, with its weakened regional position potentially prompting retaliatory actions. Al-Sharaa’s decision to open Syrian airspace to Israel underscores his pivot toward Western alignment, but it risks inflaming domestic and regional tensions in a country still recovering from years of civil war.
