Israel faces emerging regional alignment as Syria turns to Pakistan after strikes - analysis

Syria's foreign minister visits Pakistan for the first time in 17 years, a day after Israeli airstrikes on northern Syria. The visit signals a new regional alignment as Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey form a defense alliance, with Syria positioning itself closer to these countries. Israel views the emerging bloc as a containment policy aimed at its operations in Syria.

A day after Israel carried out airstrikes on a military airport south of Aleppo, Syria's foreign minister arrived in Pakistan for the first high-level visit in 17 years. Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani met Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Islamabad on August 20, discussing bilateral relations and regional stability. The visit signals Syria's intent to deepen ties with Pakistan, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia, which recently formed a joint defense agreement. Turkey has been expanding its presence in Syria and views Israel's strikes as aggression. Israel, meanwhile, sees Syria as a sphere of influence and has warned Turkey against expanding its military footprint. The emerging alignment suggests a policy of containment toward Israel, with regional countries preferring diplomacy and capability-building over direct conflict. Talk of Saudi Arabia joining the Abraham Accords appears to underestimate Riyadh's concerns over Israeli strikes in Syria.