Syria's New Reality: Kurds Seek Protection as Bashar al-Assad's Regime Crumbles

As the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad collapses amidst a rapid advance by Islamist rebel groups, representatives of the Kurdish forces in Syria have reached out to Israeli officials seeking protection and support. With the fall of Assad's regime and growing instability in Syria, the Kurdish community, seen as a Western-aligned entity, is navigating a precarious new reality in the region.

Amidst these developments, Turkish-backed Syrian rebels have launched attacks on Kurdish positions in northern Syria, particularly in the Manbij area, northeast of Aleppo. This marks a critical escalation in the ongoing conflict and underscores the vulnerabilities faced by the Kurds, who have been major players in the fight against ISIS but now find themselves facing multiple threats from both regional and global powers.

Israel, which has maintained a supportive stance toward the Kurdish community, has been collaborating with Western nations to ensure the security of the Kurds in this rapidly changing landscape. The Israeli government, recognizing the growing challenges faced by the Kurds, has worked to highlight the need for international support to protect them against extremist groups.

Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar has been at the forefront of international discussions on the Kurdish situation, raising the issue during meetings with his European and American counterparts. Last week, Sa'ar attended a foreign ministers’ conference in Malta, where he met U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, emphasizing the importance of safeguarding the Kurdish forces. Sa'ar later had a conversation with British Foreign Secretary David Lammy, reiterating the urgent need for a global response to prevent extremist factions from further destabilizing the region.

Meanwhile, U.S. President Joe Biden has indicated that the United States will continue its efforts to manage the risks and opportunities arising from the political vacuum in Syria. In a recent address, Biden confirmed that U.S. forces had carried out precision strikes in Syria against ISIS camps and operatives. He emphasized that this moment of uncertainty presents both a chance for Syria's future and a risk of further instability and stressed the opportunity for Syrians to rebuild their country but warned of the risks associated with the power vacuum left by Assad’s departure.