By Sama Marwan,
U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision to lift sanctions on Syria has sparked a wave of concern and tension in Israel. According to the Axios news site, the U.S. administration did not inform Tel Aviv in advance of its decision or of Trump’s meeting with Syrian President Ahmad Al-Shara in Saudi Arabia.
Israeli sources told Axios that during a meeting held last month, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had explicitly asked President Trump not to lift sanctions on Damascus. He also expressed concerns over Turkey’s growing influence in Syria and its support for what he described as efforts to rehabilitate the Assad regime. However, these concerns were ignored in the decisions announced during Trump’s recent visit to Saudi Arabia.
During his visit to Riyadh, Trump announced the end of U.S. sanctions on Syria, which had been in place for nearly 46 years. He also confirmed a meeting with Ahmad Al-Shara, who currently serves as the head of Syria’s transitional government. The announcement marked a sharp shift in U.S. policy towards Syria, attracting attention from both allies and critics.
Trump dismissed Netanyahu’s concerns, saying on Tuesday that his decision to lift the sanctions came in response to requests from several leaders, including Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who attended the meeting with Al-Shara, and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who participated remotely.
In Israel, there is growing concern that the easing of U.S. pressure on Syria could strengthen Iranian and Turkish influence near its borders. Officials are particularly worried that this policy shift could undermine years of pressure campaigns against the Assad regime and its allies.
Trump’s decision has added new tensions to U.S.-Israeli relations and may signal a broader reassessment of U.S. strategy in the Middle East. It also highlights the divergence of interests among regional powers regarding Syria’s future.
