Latest news with #MindIsrael
Fox News
18-07-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
Regional powers clash after Israel targets Syrian territory in defense of vulnerable Druze civilians
Israel's military strikes in Syria this week — launched in response to atrocities against the Druze minority — represent a strategic turning point in a deeper power struggle that now entangles Iran, Turkey, Israel, Saudi Arabia and the U.S., according to regional analysts. Just days ago, speculation swirled about a potential normalization agreement between Israel and Syria — a breakthrough quietly brokered by U.S. officials, but that fragile prospect has been swiftly overtaken by violence, as Israeli airstrikes this week struck near Damascus. A ceasefire agreement between Druze factions and the Syrian government, announced July 16, was meant to calm days of deadly clashes, but it remains tenuous and largely unenforced, with sporadic fighting continuing and tensions running high. "For the Druze in Israel, what's happening in southern Syria feels like October 7 all over again," said Avner Golov, vice president of the Israeli think tank Mind Israel. "Israel can no longer treat Syria as just a neighboring crisis. It's now a domestic one." In a rare scene, Israeli Druze citizens crossed the border into Syria to support their embattled relatives — prompting a stern warning from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. "My Druze brothers, citizens of Israel... Do not cross the border," Netanyahu said. "You are putting your lives at risk — you could be killed, you could be kidnapped — and you are harming the IDF's efforts. Let the IDF do its job." In his first televised address since the Israeli strikes, Syrian transitional President Ahmed al-Sharaa framed the Israeli intervention as a destabilizing act. "Government forces deployed to Suweida succeeded in restoring stability and expelling outlawed factions despite the Israeli interventions," he said, warning that the strikes led to "a significant complication of the situation" and "a large-scale escalation." He insisted that protecting the country's Druze minority was a top priority and declared that Syrians "are not afraid of war." Within Israel, the collapse of order in Syria has triggered sharp debate. Some policymakers argue for supporting Sharaa as an anti-Iranian strongman, while others advocate broader military action to create a buffer zone in southern Syria. Golov supports a middle course: conditional strikes paired with demands for Druze autonomy and accountability for war crimes. "If Sharaa shows he's willing to punish those responsible for the massacre and agree to Druze autonomy, then Israel can gradually work with him," Golov told Fox News Digital. He also called for a regional diplomatic effort to stabilize Syria. "We need a regional summit — the U.S., Saudi Arabia, even Turkey, and Israel" he said. "Bring positive forces into Syria and use Israeli military power not just tactically, but to gain diplomatic leverage." "There's a temptation to miss the victory lap," said Behnam Taleblu, senior director of the Iran Program at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD). "Rather than see Syria through the prism of competition with Turkey, Israel should first see it through the prism of diminished competition with Iran. That in itself is a huge achievement." While Iran's position has weakened, Turkey has quietly expanded its footprint in Syria by backing the al-Sharaa government. Turkey's strategic interest in Syria, Sinan Ciddi, a senior fellow at FDD and director of the Turkey program, explained, is to fill the vacuum left by Iran with its own political and economic influence — using al-Sharaa regime as a conduit. "Turkey has a lot riding on al-Sharaa success," he said. "They'd like to see increased trade, the reconstruction of Syria through al-Sharaa. They want to use him as a means to influence the region politically." However, Israel's military response has triggered alarm in Ankara. "Turkey is not in a position to militarily challenge Israel — it would be a disaster," said Ciddi. "They're talking tough, but they're deeply concerned." Ciddi emphasized that Turkey's aging military hardware and lack of air defense leave it highly exposed. Yet, Turkey is deeply invested in al-Sharaa political survival, hoping to leverage him for influence and economic ties in post-war Syria. A direct clash between Turkey and Israel, Ciddi warned, would "result in a diplomatic fiasco... and require the United States and European countries to step in as mediator." Even as Israel dismantled key parts of Iran's military infrastructure in Syria, Tehran remains a long-term threat. Taleblu said Iran is now lying in wait — ready to exploit missteps by others. "This is a regime that capitalizes on the mistakes of others," he said. "They don't need to win outright — they just need everyone else to lose." Tehran is betting that the region's rival powers — Turkey, Israel, the U.S. and the Gulf — will overplay their hands, allowing Iran to reenter through proxies, sectarian militias, or diplomatic manipulation. Though President Trump recently said Syria's internal affairs are "not our war," his administration's tone has shifted. Secretary of State Marco Rubio called for de-escalation, and regional partners are urging a clearer U.S. role. "Real success will come from creating contingencies," Taleblu said. "What are the costs if Syria collapses? What if Turkey overreaches, or Israel overextends? What if Iran comes back? The states that prepare for these questions."
Fox News
19-06-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
Israel's 'resounding' military campaign against Iran could be historic turning point, experts say
Israel's military campaign in Iran has already produced "enormous achievements," according to experts tracking the conflict, with many citing the operation as the payoff for years of preparation, battlefield innovation and intelligence development. Mark Dubowitz, CEO of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and a leading voice on U.S. policy toward Iran, called Israel's progress "a resounding military win." "They've actually dominated the Iranian military," Dubowitz told Fox News Digital. "They've taken out many senior military leaders, the Iranian Air Force, and a significant percentage of missile launchers and ballistic inventory." Still, Iran's retaliation is taking a toll. On Thursday morning, an Iranian missile struck Soroka Medical Center in Beersheba and targeted several major cities, injuring hundreds. Despite the heavy costs, military experts insist that the IDF continues to hold the upper hand, both tactically and strategically. Comparing the scale of success to the Six-Day War, Dubowitz said, "It's starting to look like 1967, when the Israelis eviscerated five Arab armies. It may take longer than six days, but they're certainly on that trajectory." Hila Hadad-Hamelnik, a strategist at "Mind Israel" think tank and former CEO of the Ministry of Innovation, noted that the success is no accident — it is the result of "years of preparation in every aspect." From developing long-range strike capabilities to building an unparalleled intelligence apparatus and adapting operational doctrines from Gaza and Lebanon, she said the IDF's current dominance is a product of both innovation and experience. "This is not a campaign someone decided to do six months ago," she said. "This is years of work — in intelligence, in weapons development, in defensive and offensive operations. The methods we tested against Hezbollah — striking command chains quickly and precisely — were studied, refined, and applied here." She pointed to lessons learned in Gaza, especially the importance of rapidly identifying and eliminating rocket launchers before strikes even begin. "We learned through hard fighting that you have to neutralize launchers, not just intercept the missiles. And that doctrine — developed in Gaza where targets are five minutes away — has now been adapted to Iran, with all the complexity that entails." Hadad-Hamelnik stressed that Israel's control over Iranian skies is "stunning … the Air Force is flying over Iran day after day. Drones are holding the skies." Even with the heavy toll taken when Iran's missiles get through, like the attack against Soroka hospital on Thursday, she credited the country's defensive systems, like Iron Dome and David's Sling — systems she helped develop — which intercepted missile salvos with over 90% effectiveness, even amid unprecedented barrages. "This is a war of a different scale, and yet the systems are holding," she said. Dubowitz acknowledged that despite massive gains, one key target remains: the Fordow nuclear enrichment facility, buried under a mountain at a Revolutionary Guard base. "Israel has devastated Iran's nuclear infrastructure. They've eliminated 14 senior nuclear scientists — the 'Oppenheimers' of Iran's program," he said. "But Fordow remains. And if it's left standing, Iran can rebuild." While Dubowitz clarified that he is not explicitly calling for U.S. military strikes, he said that "President Trump must ensure Fordow is fully dismantled — whether through a diplomatic agreement or, if Iran refuses, a targeted military intervention." He outlined three potential paths: "One, Iran shows up for a real deal and the program is dismantled. Two, Trump strikes Fordow. Three, Trump strikes and then negotiates. But either way, it has to end with Iran losing its nuclear weapons capability — not just temporarily, but permanently." Hadad-Hamelnik believes Israel's success has created an opportunity for the United States. "Thanks to the phenomenal achievements of the IDF, the situation is now very clear. If the U.S. were to join at this point, with Fordow as the main remaining target and most assets already degraded, it would not look like getting pulled into a quagmire," she said. "This is nothing like Ukraine or Afghanistan. There's an actual path to decisive success, and that can change the political calculus in Washington." Dubowitz added that Israel's offensive struck not only military and nuclear targets, but also Iran's internal security infrastructure — including state media and the regime's repressive arms. for that, he said, could open the door for future domestic unrest. "We can't expect people to protest while missiles are falling. But if Israel continues striking the regime's tools of repression, space may open for Iranians to return to the streets." Dubowitz, who has spent two decades warning of Iran's nuclear ambitions, reflected on the moment with cautious hope. "I'm heartened to see the long arm of Israeli justice reach those responsible for such brutal aggression," he said. "This may be a historic opportunity to truly end Iran's nuclear threat, and perhaps even to support the Iranian people in reclaiming their future," he added, "There have been incredible achievements, but if Fordow is left standing by President Donald Trump, then it could end up being a Pyrrhic victory."
