Amid Syria’s spiraling chaos, Israeli intelligence warns that the assassination of President Ahmad al-Sharaa could unleash ISIS and extremist factions, turning the north into a tinderbox of terror. Power vacuums, jihadist resurgence, and looming bloodshed threaten Israel’s borders.
Amid escalating instability in post-Assad Syria, Israeli security agencies have assessed the assassination of Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa, also known as Ahmed al-Sharaa or Abu Mohammad al-Jolani, as "highly likely" at the hands of internal opposition elements. A senior Israeli official has issued a stark warning: "We need to prepare for the possibility that extremist groups like ISIS and others may take control of Syria if al-Sharaa is assassinated."
This alarming development reflects growing concerns that an internal collapse could pave the way for jihadist organizations to expand their influence along Israel's northern border. Recent reports from Israeli media and security analyses in November and December 2025 highlight a heightened risk, focusing on threats from extremist factions, internal opposition, and potential power vacuums that could empower groups like ISIS.
Multiple Israeli outlets and think tanks report that security agencies view al-Sharaa's assassination by internal opposition or extremist factions as a significant threat. For example: Israeli Channel 14 reported in early December 2025 that security officials assess the assassination by "opposition groups" within Syria as "very likely." This phrasing echoes other citations of the channel, describing it as "highly likely" by opposition factions. (Read More)
