US National Security Advisor Sullivan backs Israel’s defensive measures in Syria, discusses potential hostage release deal with Netanyahu

Arab and some European diplomats have criticized Israel’s decision to seize control of the buffer zone between Syria and Israel following the collapse of the Syrian Assad regime.

However, on Thursday, U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sulivan backed Israel, emphasizing that its actions in Syria are defensive and aimed at preventing hostile jihadists from posing a threat or launching attacks against Israel.

“What Israel is doing is trying to identify potential threats, both conventional and weapons of mass destruction, that could threaten Israel and, frankly, threaten others as well,” Sullivan assessed.

“The Israelis have been clear about what they’re doing and why they’re doing it,” he told media representatives at King Hussein International Airport in Jordan.

“I think across the board, when it comes to any actors who have real interests in Syria, it’s also really important at this time that we all try to make sure that we’re not sparking any additional conflicts,” he added.

In contrast, France has urged Israel to withdraw its forces from the buffer zone while ignoring the State of Israel's legitimate security concerns on the currently volatile border between Syria and Israel.

While welcoming the downfall of Bashar al-Assad's dictatorship, Sullivan voiced concerns on behalf of the Biden administration, warning that the current power vacuum in Syria poses various risks, “including the potential for fracture in that state.”

Both Israel and the United States are concerned that hostile jihadi forces will take over Syria and potentially attack Israel's and Western interests in the Middle East.

In an unprecedented military operation, the Israel Defense Forces reportedly eliminated about 80% of the former Assad regime’s military assets, including fighter jets, helicopters, vessels and tanks.

Sullivan recently met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to discuss the possibility of a potential Gaza deal that would secure the release of the remaining Israeli hostages held by the terrorist organization Hamas.

“It might not happen, but I believe it can happen with political will on both sides,” Sullivan said. He dismissed claims that Netanyahu is delaying in hopes of securing a better hostage deal once President-elect Donald Trump takes office.

“No, I do not get that sense,” he said. “I got the sense from the prime minister [that] he is ready to do a deal. My goal will be to put us in a position to be able to close this deal this month.”

“I can’t make any promises or predictions to you, but I wouldn’t be here today if I thought this thing was just waiting until after January 20,” Sullivan noted.

The severely weakened Hamas terror group may be preparing to accept a hostage-release agreement that allows for a temporary Israeli military presence in Gaza. Hamas previously demanded a complete withdrawal of Israeli troops and an end to the war as part of any deal.

The war began on Oct. 7, 2023, when Hamas terrorists invaded southern Israel's border communities with Gaza and massacred 1,200 Israeli men, women and children, abducting 251 people and committing various atrocities against Israeli and foreign citizens.

Sullivan spoke about the evolving negotiation dynamics between Israel and Hamas, highlighting the opportunities within the current political landscape.

“And from that moment forward, we’ve had a different character to the negotiation, and we believe that it puts us in a position to be able to close this negotiation,” he assessed.