Syrian Leader Julani Weakened as Israel Eyes Possible Future Intervention

Ahmad al-Julani, leader of the Sunni rebel factions in Syria, is currently in a weakened state, lacking significant military power and struggling to control his own forces, according to Arab affairs analyst Zvi Yehezkeli. Speaking on Israel’s i24NEWS evening broadcast, Yehezkeli assessed that while the current escalation appears to be winding down, the quiet may only be temporary.

"Right now, things seem to be moving towards de-escalation, with Trump attempting to re-engage and Julani trying to regain control of his factions," said Yehezkeli. "But these are unruly Sunni militias that don’t always follow his command. He’s previously called on them to retreat, yet they continued slaughtering. This is a Sunni-Druse conflict, where the Sunnis view the Druse as impure and call for their extermination."

Yehezkeli emphasized the significance of a recent airstrike targeting the Syrian General Staff headquarters and the presidential palace, highlighting the Assad regime’s vulnerability. "Only last week, there were peace talks with Julani, and now he’s being targeted. If Assad were still firmly in control, Israel wouldn't dare send a drone near that palace. But Julani is fragile, he has no real army—just scattered fighters with Kalashnikovs—and they can be stopped."

He further warned that Israel may need to take further action. "This is a minority state now under ISIS control, and they won’t tolerate other sects. Israel will have to deal with this again. Some even believe these territories should be annexed to Israel, possibly in coordination with Turkey."

Yehezkeli concluded by noting that while there is momentum to “close the file” on the recent violence, the situation remains volatile. "Julani himself wants to end it, under pressure from Saudi Arabia and Trump. But if this ends, it will only be a temporary closure."