So, what should U.S. policy be in this new reality? Let’s examine the lessons Israel is learning on the ground and apply them to America’s strategic considerations.
The collapse of Assad’s regime underscores a key lesson: the artificial nation-states created by colonial powers after World War I—the Sykes-Picot map—are disintegrating. This reality must inform U.S. policy. Syria is no longer a single entity but a patchwork of tribes and ethnities with competing interests, many of which are hostile to Western values and allies.
The United States must adopt a policy that recognizes this fragmentation and focuses on stabilizing regions, rather than clinging to the illusion of a unified Syria. Backing smaller, self-governing entities like the Druze, Kurds, or other minorities who reject radical Islamism could be a cornerstone of such a strategy.
The Druze request for Israeli protection highlights a stark truth: Israel is the most reliable partner in the Middle East to provide protection and stability. The U.S. should double down on its strategic alliance with Israel, supporting its efforts to stabilize the region and protect minority communities from the Sunni jihadist onslaught.
Moreover, America’s partnership with Israel should serve as a model for dealing with other trustworthy allies, such as the Kurdish factions. Just as Israel is safeguarding its borders and the Druze, the Kurds could play a similar role in their regions, if properly supported.
The fall of Assad has created a power vacuum that radical Sunni militias, akin to ISIS and the Taliban, are rushing to fill. The U.S. must avoid repeating past mistakes of engaging in endless wars, or recognizing these Islamist entities as sovereign and instead focus on empowering regional actors to handle these threats.
Providing military and financial aid to Israel and the Kurds—who are already on the frontlines—ensures the fight against jihadism continues without the need for direct U.S. intervention. Simultaneously, the U.S. should work to prevent Sunni extremist groups from gaining control over strategic resources or threatening global stability.
Israel’s protection of the Druze highlights an essential truth: borders are not sacred in the Middle East. If Israel’s security and regional stability require expanding into the Golan Heights or further into Syria to safeguard against Sunni militancy, the U.S. should support these actions. Recognizing new realities on the ground is not only practical but moral when it comes to protecting innocent lives.
Another complicating factor is Turkey, a NATO member pursuing its own Islamist agenda by backing Sunni militant groups in Syria. The U.S. must reassess Turkey’s role in NATO and its alignment with American interests. Turning a blind eye to Turkey’s destabilizing actions will only embolden Sunni jihadist movements and weaken the U.S.’s position in the region.
The Druze plea to Israel is a powerful reminder of the moral responsibilities of Western powers. As Sunni militants seek to impose their brutal ideology across Syria and beyond, the U.S. must stand with those who resist this tyranny. Supporting Israel, the Druze, Kurds, and other minorities, and curbing Turkey’s Islamist ambitions are not just strategic choices—they are moral imperatives.
The United States has a rare opportunity to reshape its Middle East policy for the better, without direct involvement, learning from Israel’s decisive actions and moral clarity. Together, America and Israel can forge a path that protects freedom, safeguards minority communities, and ensures the forces of jihadism are kept at bay.
