Israel Urges Europe to Halt Recognition of Syria’s Interim Leadership
"The international community in general, and Europe in particular, has flocked to Damascus in recent months to shake hands with Sharaa." Gideon Saar said
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar has called on European nations to stop granting legitimacy to Syria’s transitional government, following reports of mass killings during recent clashes in the country’s coastal regions.
In an interview with Germany’s Bild newspaper on Sunday, Saar warned that Europe must "not fail in reading the reality," urging it to reconsider its engagement with Syria’s new leadership.
Israeli Criticism of European Approach
"Europe must wake up. It must stop granting legitimacy to a regime whose first actions—unsurprising, given its well-known terrorist background—are these atrocities," Saar told Bild, referring to the recent violence in Latakia and Tartus.
He criticized the growing international acceptance of Syria’s interim president, Ahmad al-Sharaa, stating that "the international community in general, and Europe in particular, has flocked to Damascus in recent months to shake hands with Sharaa."
"However, Sharaa and his men were jihadists and remain jihadists, even if they now wear suits," Saar added, arguing that "this weekend, the masks came off, as Sharaa’s men mercilessly massacred their own people."
EU Lifts Key Sanctions on Syria
Saar’s remarks come just days after the European Union officially announced the suspension of sanctions on Syria’s energy, banking, and transport sectors, marking a major shift in EU policy.
On Feb. 24, 2025, the EU Council confirmed that restrictions on oil, gas, electricity, and transportation had been lifted. Additionally, five Syrian financial and economic entities, including the Industrial Bank and Syrian Arab Airlines, were removed from the EU sanctions list.
However, despite these policy changes, some EU restrictions remain in place due to security concerns, particularly regarding arms, surveillance technology, and chemical materials. The designation of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) as a terrorist organization also remains unchanged under United Nations mandates.
Coastal Clashes Spark Humanitarian Crisis
The situation in Syria’s coastal regions continues to deteriorate. Clashes erupted last Thursday between Syria’s new security forces and pro-Assad loyalists in Latakia and Tartus, escalating into what has been described as sectarian massacres.
According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, the death toll has surpassed 1,311, including: 830 Alawite civilians, allegedly executed in targeted killings, 125 security personnel from Syria’s interim government and 148 former regime fighters still loyal to Assad.
Reports indicate widespread displacement and severe humanitarian conditions, with electricity and water shortages crippling entire towns. Markets and bakeries have shut down, deepening the suffering of civilians trapped in the conflict zone.
