Netanyahu’s Peace Offensive Gains Traction with Post-Assad Syria

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s diplomatic offensive on the northern front is gaining traction, particularly with the new, post-Assad government in Syria. On Sunday, Netanyahu revealed that peace talks are showing “some progress” and that the entire dynamic with the north, including Lebanon, has been changed by Israel’s recent war against Hezbollah.
The collapse of the Assad regime, a key ally of Iran and Hezbollah, has fundamentally altered Syria’s foreign policy. The new leadership has quickly entered into direct negotiations with Israel to end a state of war that has existed since 1948. A Syrian official has even suggested that military and security pacts could be finalized this year.
This has put immense pressure on Hezbollah in Lebanon. While Israel continues to strike the group despite a ceasefire, the Lebanese government is moving to reclaim its sovereignty. Prodded by the U.S. and the new regional reality, Beirut has ordered its military to begin planning the disarmament of the powerful militia.
Netanyahu credits this traction to Israeli military strength. “Our victories in Lebanon against Hezbollah have opened a window,” he told his cabinet, framing the conflict as a strategic success. While cautious about the timeline, his confirmation of progress with Syria is a significant development.
The momentum is tangible. Syria’s new president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, is negotiating an Israeli withdrawal from recently occupied lands in exchange for a demilitarized buffer. A Syrian military official has confirmed that heavy weapons have been removed from the area. In Lebanon, the government has set a three-month deadline to begin disarming Hezbollah near the Israeli border.