Syria’s internal conflict between various factions appears to mark the early stages of a potential clash between Turkey and Israel, with Syrian President al-Julani caught in the middle. As Syria continues to face instability, regional and international powers are working to shape its future.
According to some assessments, Israel—partially backed by U.S. President Donald Trump—aims to establish a land corridor stretching from Israel through Druze and Kurdish areas in Syria to Iraq and Iran. For Israel, this would serve as a security buffer. For the U.S., such a corridor would offer a more cost-effective route to access Iraq’s oil fields, reducing oil export costs.
On the other side, Turkish President Erdoğan has invested billions in building up Sunni jihadist forces to topple Assad’s regime and revive his vision of a neo-Ottoman empire.
However, a surprise agreement reportedly emerged from a trilateral meeting in Riyadh between Syrian President al-Julani, Trump, and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman: Saudi Arabia would lead Syria’s reconstruction and expand its influence there—at Turkey’s expense.