Syria seeks Islamist expansion into Lebanon, Golan to serve Turkish interests, expert tells 'Post'

Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa is serving Turkish interests by seeking to join the Mecca Pact and expand a Sunni Islamist axis led by the Muslim Brotherhood, according to Yoni Ben-Menachem of the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs. Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani confirmed discussions are underway for Syria to join the alliance, which includes Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and potentially Egypt.

Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa is serving Turkish interests by seeking to join the Mecca Pact and expand a Sunni Islamist axis led by the Muslim Brotherhood, according to Yoni Ben-Menachem, a senior researcher at the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs, who spoke to The Jerusalem Post. Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani confirmed on Saturday that discussions are underway for Syria to join the alliance, which currently includes Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and potentially Egypt. Ben-Menachem argued that the pact is being pushed to fill a power vacuum that could be created should Iran's Islamic regime fall, and that Qatar may soon announce it is considering joining. He noted that since the fall of the Assad regime, there have been growing calls among Syrians for jihad against Israel to claim the Golan Heights. Ben-Menachem also said Syria is focused on building its army from over 130 armed groups with Turkish support, and that Israeli security sources view this new army as a danger to Israel.