Pained and angered by deadly clashes between Islamist and Druze gunmen in Syria in recent weeks, leaders of Israel's own Druze minority say the Israeli military was right to intervene to defend the Druze and should do so again if violence restarts.

"We want to want to be sure that he is not a terrorist anymore," senior Israeli official told Newsweek of Syria's Ahmad al-Sharaa.

US President Donald Trump on Wednesday had tea with a former jihadist who until recently had a $10 million US bounty on his head.

An end to U.S. sanctions on Syria is expected to mark a new era for an economy devastated by 13 years of war, opening the way for investment flows from the Syrian diaspora, Turkey, and Gulf states that back the new government.

President Donald Trump asked Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa to fully normalize relations with Israel in exchange for sanctions relief. In a readout of the pivotal Wednesday meeting for Syria, Trump encouraged Sharaa to sign onto the Abraham Accords with Israel,

He also called "for a future of safety and dignity of the Palestinian people, but that cannot happen as long as Gaza's leaders take delight in raping, torturing and murdering innocent people,"

Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa has said that his government is holding indirect talks with Israel to bring an end to Israeli attacks on Syria.

Israel has used attacks on religious minority by forces loyal to Syria's new government to justify strikes across the border

During a Saudi Arabia meeting, US President Trump urged Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa to normalize relations with Israel, following a US announcement to lift sanctions on Syria.

The US president is making a slew of deals, decisions and alliances central to the daily well-being and geostrategic future of a marginalized Israel. Gaza could be next