Israeli Defense Minister: “We Don’t Trust Joulani; Extremist Groups Attacking Druze Today Will Target Israel Tomorrow”
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant expressed distrust towards Hani al-Joulani, leader of the extremist group Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), warning that the same extremist groups attacking the Druze community today could turn their focus on Israel in the future.
Kokcha News Agency: Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant has issued a stark warning about the growing threat of extremist groups in the region, particularly those targeting the Druze community.
Gallant stated, “We don’t trust Hani al-Joulani,” referring to the leader of Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a prominent extremist group in Syria. He emphasized that the same groups currently attacking the Druze could pose a direct threat to Israel in the near future.
Gallant’s comments come amid increasing tensions in the region, where extremist factions have been involved in violent clashes with the Druze, a religious minority in Syria and Lebanon.
The Israeli Defense Minister highlighted the need for vigilance, suggesting that these groups, once they finish with their current targets, could shift their focus toward Israel.
The statement reflects Israel’s broader concerns about the stability of its northern borders and the potential spillover of violence from Syria’s ongoing conflict.
Gallant’s remarks also underscore Israel’s distrust of HTS and other extremist factions, despite their current focus on internal Syrian conflicts.
