Critics have accused Israel of undermining regional stability through its military operations in Syria. In particular, Israel’s takeover of the Syrian Golan Heights has come under scrutiny. However, these claims overlook the dangerous vacuum left by the collapse of the Assad regime and the urgent need to prevent Syria’s vast military arsenal from falling into the hands of radical groups. In reality, Israel’s actions have been decisive in preventing the rise of a new extremist regime under Ahmed al-Sharaa, and in halting the flow of weapons to Iranian proxies, al-Qaeda affiliates, and other destabilizing actors.

After years of civil war, the Assad regime effectively collapsed, leaving behind an immense stockpile of military assets—ranging from advanced surface-to-air missile systems to long-range rockets and chemical weapons. Into this void stepped Ahmed al-Sharaa, also known as Abu Mohammad al-Julani, a former commander in al-Qaeda’s Syrian branch, Jabhat al-Nusra. Despite recent attempts to rebrand himself and gain international legitimacy, al-Sharaa’s movement remains rooted in Salafi-jihadist ideology, committed to the creation of an Islamic emirate and hostile to both the West and regional moderates.

Faced with the alarming prospect of these weapons being seized by al-Sharaa’s forces, Hezbollah, or Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), Israel took strategic action to dismantle Syria’s remaining military infrastructure. Through targeted airstrikes on weapons depots, radar installations, missile production facilities, and air defense systems, Israel aimed not only to degrade Iranian entrenchment, but to prevent the Syrian army’s arsenal from being transferred to radical Islamist factions. These strikes were not designed to destabilize Syria for its own sake, but to ensure that the chaos of regime collapse did not lead to an even more dangerous future.

In parallel, Israel’s actions have served as a counterweight to Turkey’s growing presence in northern Syria, where Ankara has used military force and proxy militias to assert control. Turkey’s ambitions to reshape northern Syria into a buffer zone under its influence—often at the expense of Kurdish and minority populations—further threatens the region’s fragile balance. By disrupting the supply of advanced weapons to Islamist militias in the region, Israel prevents both local and external actors from escalating the conflict.

Moreover, Israel has made clear efforts to limit civilian casualties and avoid entanglement in Syria’s internal politics. Its strikes are carefully calculated, intelligence-driven, and focused on military targets that pose a direct threat to its security and the region’s stability.

In addition to Israel's security needs and preventive measures against future radical governance in Syria, Israel has taken an active role in protecting the Druze communities in Southern Syria. Israel has a small but important Druze population within Israel. They serve in the IDF, participate in the economy and bring value to Israel. The special relationship that Israel has with its Druze communities brought it to assist the Druze in Syria who are facing violence from the new Syrian administration.

In sum, Israel’s campaign in Syria has been essential in preventing a catastrophic arms race among extremists, limiting Iran’s military reach, deterring Hezbollah,containing the rise of jihadist regimes like that of Ahmed al-Sharaa and protecting the Druze minority group. Far from undermining stability, Israel has acted as one of the few forces in the region willing and able to prevent Syria from descending into an ungovernable terrorist stronghold.