‘Grave and dangerous’: Israel’s FM Sa’ar slams Syrian gov’t for attacking Kurdish minority in Aleppo

Days after the two countries agreed to establish a joint mechanism for security cooperation, Israel’s Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar slammed the Syrian government for its forces’ attacks against Kurds in the city of Aleppo. 

“Attacks by the Syrian regime's forces against the Kurdish minority in the city of Aleppo - are grave and dangerous,” said Sa’ar. 

Tens of thousands of civilians reportedly fled the majority-Kurdish neighborhoods of Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafieh in Aleppo, after the Syrian army declared them as “closed military areas” and shelled them following two days of clashes with Kurdish troops. 

Attacks by the Syrian regime's forces against the Kurdish minority in the city of Aleppo - are grave and dangerous.
The international community in general, and the West in particular, owes a debt of honor to the Kurds who fought bravely and successfully against ISIS.
Systematic…

— Gideon Sa'ar | גדעון סער (@gidonsaar) January 8, 2026

The Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) still control large areas in the northeast of the country and attempts to integrate its troops with the new Syrian state military led by the government of President Ahmed al-Sharaa have failed so far. 

SDF claims it has no military presence in Aleppo and condemned the government’s actions there, accusing it of trying to displace the Kurdish population. 

The Syrian military, meanwhile, blamed the SDF for a “major escalation towards the neighborhoods of Aleppo city and its perpetration of numerous massacres against civilians.” 

Sa’ar’s strong condemnation of the Syrian government came shortly after Syria and Israel agreed to establish a “joint fusion mechanism” to share intelligence and prevent military miscalculations during talks that were reportedly held in a positive atmosphere. 

However, Sa’ar has long warned against legitimizing the new regime of al-Sharaa, who used to be a globally designated Islamist terrorist and whose government is largely made up of fellow former terrorists.  

Sa’ar noted that “The international community in general, and the West in particular, owes a debt of honor to the Kurds who fought bravely and successfully against ISIS.” 

“Systematic and murderous repression of Syria’s various minorities contradicts the promises of a ‘new Syria.’ Silence on the part of the international community will lead to an escalation of the violence by the Syrian regime.” 

In December, Sa'ar had also condemned attacks on the Kurds in northern Syria by the Turkish military, which is opposed to Kurdish authority in Syria.

Ankara has been the strongest supporter of the new Syrian government, and on Thursday, offered its support against the Kurdish forces.

"If Syria requests assistance, Turkey will provide the necessary support," said Turkey's Defense Ministry.

During the clashes in Aleppo, at least four Kurdish civilians were killed, the SDF said, while authorities said that a soldier was also killed since fighting erupted on Tuesday. 

Al-Sharaa had met with SDF leader Mazloum Abdi in Damascus on Sunday, with talks focusing on the efforts to advance their military integration. 

However, the meeting did not produce tangible results, a government source told Syria’s al-Ikhbariya channel. The source added that both sides agreed to hold further meetings at a later date.