Israel's Ambassador to the United States, Yechiel Leiter, has firmly rejected allegations that Israel permitted or condoned Syrian government forces to attack Kurdish positions in northeast Syria. The denial comes amid escalating tensions in the region following reports of violent clashes between Syrian troops and Kurdish fighters and distrubing documentation of Kurds being massacred by al-Julani's forces.
In a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter), Leiter, who participated in a recent trilateral meeting in Paris involving U.S., Israeli, and Syrian representatives, clarified Israel's stance. "Having been present for the entirety of the trilateral meeting in Paris myself, Israel never condoned an attack by the Syrian army on the Syrian Kurds. Any claim that we did so is false," he wrote.
The controversy stems from ongoing Syrian advances into Kurdish-held territories, particularly in areas like Aleppo, where government forces under the new leadership of Ahmed al-Sharaa have been pushing forward.
Some Kurdish officials and analysts have voiced concerns that Israel's diplomatic engagements with Damascus, aimed at addressing shared security threats, may have indirectly signaled approval for these operations, potentially delaying Kurdish integration with the Syrian regime. However, no direct evidence has emerged supporting claims that Israel explicitly "let" such actions occur.
Israeli officials have publicly condemned the violence. Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar described the Syrian attacks on Kurds as "grave and dangerous," urging the international community to intervene and prevent further escalation. Critics within Kurdish circles argue that Israel's talks with al-Sharaa, while clashes persist, fall short of providing adequate support to Kurds facing potential atrocities.
