Dr. Ma’an Talaa to “Welat TV”: Israel Is Shaping a New Security Order in the Region
Welat TV – Erbil
Dr. Ma’an Talaa, Director of Research at the Omran Center for Strategic Studies, said that Israel’s targeting of Abu al-Duhour Airport in Idlib Governorate represents a message directed at Turkey, noting that this message “is not the first and will not be the last,” amid Israeli efforts to reshape the regional security order.
In an interview with “Welat TV” during the “Meeting of the Week” program on Thursday, August 20, 2026, Talaa said that the ongoing tensions in the region are part of a broader process aimed at realigning security and regional balances. He explained that Israel seeks to play a leading role in the new security order taking shape in the Middle East.
Israel and Turkey: Exchanging Messages
Talaa argued that Israeli calculations do not favor the prospect of Turkey being part of the future Syrian landscape, claiming that Israeli national security “does not permit a NATO force with an Islamic dimension to fill the vacuum in Syria.”
He added that through its actions, Israel is sending messages to Ankara that its presence in Syria is not welcome, noting that Tel Aviv does not want Turkey to be part of the scenario it envisions for Syria in the coming years.
Washington Seeks to Stabilize the Middle East
Talaa noted that, by contrast, the US administration is seeking to stabilize the Middle East, thereby opening new avenues for development and cooperation. He believes that Syria will be one of the most important focal points of the new regional alliance and a key element in maintaining the region’s stability.
He emphasized that no international or regional party has an interest in entering into a new war in Syria, given the existing complexities and the multitude of powers and actors involved.
Challenges Facing Damascus
Regarding the internal situation in Syria, Talaa said that Damascus remains unable to establish full security control over all parts of Syrian territory, stressing the need to reach internal and local understandings that would prevent continued conflict over spheres of influence.
He noted that “security decentralization” is beginning to take shape in Syria. He added that this trend could have positive outcomes if approached with a clear vision and a comprehensive perspective, rather than being viewed as a precursor to the country’s disintegration.
Opening Up to Neighboring Countries
Talaa emphasized that the complexities of the Syrian situation require its leadership to open up to neighboring countries, noting that these countries have an interest in engaging with Syria and that regional conditions allow for the development of relations and understandings that serve the stability of the region.
In this context, he argued that reaching an understanding among the various Syrian political factions is essential to consolidating stability and preventing the country from becoming an open arena for regional and international rivalry.
Israel and Syria… Toward a Possible Settlement
Talaa addressed the future of Syrian-Israeli relations, suggesting that Damascus and Tel Aviv are close to reaching an agreement and noting that the messages Israel is sending at this stage aim, among other things, to exert pressure on both Damascus and Ankara.
He said that Syria and Israel are likely to reach a “road map and a final settlement” if the necessary political and security conditions are in place.
In contrast, Talaa argued that Israel wants Syria’s political system to remain fragile and incapable of making independent decisions, thereby allowing it to maintain its influence and role within the new security arrangements in the region.
Partition… An Unlikely Scenario
Regarding the future of Syria’s territorial integrity, Talaa ruled out the possibility of partition at this stage, especially following the agreement with the SDF. He noted that partition would require a local actor capable of driving the process forward, a factor he believes is currently absent.
He emphasized that Syria’s future requires reaching understandings with all political parties, communities, and key actors, thereby ensuring the country’s unity and paving the way for more stable security and political arrangements.
A New Regional Security Order
Talaa concluded that current developments in Syria and the region cannot be understood in isolation from broader shifts in the regional order, noting that various parties are moving to reshape the balance of power and security arrangements in the Middle East.
According to Talaa, Syria will be at the heart of these arrangements, making it essential to reach internal and regional understandings to avoid a new conflict and ensure that Syrian territory does not remain a point of contention among local, regional, and international powers.