Following Hezbollah’s withdrawal from the war under a ceasefire agreement, the overthrow of the Assad regime in Syria, and Iraqi militias’ decision to cease attacks against Israel, attention has shifted to the Houthis, who remain the only external force actively opposing Israel’s actions in Gaza.

While the United States (U.S.) and Israel prepared to launch a comprehensive operation against the Houthis, the Arab coalition, supported by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Saudi Arabia, mobilized their forces. In northern Yemen, Saudi Arabia intensified artillery strikes against Houthi targets, including the city of Saada. Concurrently, forces loyal to the Southern Transitional Council (STC), directly affiliated with the UAE, launched attacks on Houthi forces in the Taiz region.

Just hours before these assaults, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced plans for a forceful operation against the Houthis. Meanwhile, the U.S. Central Forces Command (CENTCOM) revealed via its X account (formerly Twitter) that preparations were underway for attacks against the Houthis using the USS Harry S. Truman aircraft carrier.

Since 31 October 2023, the Houthis have conducted direct attacks targeting Israel in response to the nation’s actions in Gaza. In addition to these strikes, they have seized commercial ships off Yemen’s coast—allegedly linked to Israeli companies—and attacked several vessels using drones and missiles.

As a result of these actions, many shipping companies have suspended operations in the Red Sea. On 18 December 2023, the United States announced the formation of a multinational maritime task force called Operation Welfare Guardian. This coalition, involving multiple nations, aims to secure global maritime trade endangered by Houthi activity. The U.S. and UK have also organized attacks on Houthi positions as part of this operation.

According to Haaretz, Israeli Defense Minister Yisrael Katz stated that Israel would deliver a “hard blow” to the Houthis. He emphasized plans to target Houthi strategic infrastructure and leadership, declaring, “We will do the same in Hodeidah and Sana’a as we did in Tehran, Gaza, and Lebanon against Heniyyeh, Sinwar, and Nasrallah.”

“We defeated Hamas, we defeated Hezbollah, we blinded Iran’s defense systems, and we disrupted their missile production capabilities,” Katz continued, adding that Israel would deal a severe blow to the Houthis. “Anyone who raises their hand against Israel will have their hand cut off. The long arm of the Israeli army will strike them, and they will face unprecedented retribution,” he threatened.

In a significant revelation, Katz also confirmed for the first time that Israel was behind the assassination of Hamas Political Bureau Chairman Ismail Heniyyeh in Tehran. While Heniyyeh’s death had previously gone unclaimed, this acknowledgment marks a pivotal development.

Ahmed al-Sharaa, also known as Julani, the leader of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham and the architect behind the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad’s government in Syria, is hosting representatives from Arab countries following visits by delegations from the United States and Europe.

A high-level delegation from Saudi Arabia, led by the Undersecretary of the Royal Court, held talks in Damascus. According to Saudi Arabia’s Al Arabiya television, the delegation met with Sharaa, the leader of Syria’s new administration. The report highlighted Sharaa’s comments on the shared interests between Syria and Saudi Arabia. However, Saudi authorities have not issued an official statement regarding the visit.

The Jordanian Foreign Ministry confirmed that Foreign Minister Ayman al-Safadi met with Sharaa in Damascus. A written statement noted that Safadi is engaging in “wide-ranging talks” with Sharaa, reflecting Jordan’s ongoing efforts to recalibrate its approach to Syrian relations.

Qatar recently reopened its embassy in Damascus after 13 years and dispatched its Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Mohammed bin Abdulaziz al-Khalifi, to the Syrian capital. Qatari Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Majid bin Mohammed Al-Ansari announced on social media platform X that a Qatar Airways plane carrying a high-level delegation landed in Damascus. This marked the first Qatari flight to Syria since the Assad government was overthrown.

In his statement, al-Ansari emphasized Qatar’s unwavering commitment to supporting the Syrian people. The delegation is expected to hold talks with Syrian officials to further develop bilateral relations.

Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Ismail Beghai clarified during a press conference in Tehran that Iran does not maintain direct ties with the current Syrian administration.

Beghai stated, “We have engaged with some groups in the past; however, we have no direct connection with the new leadership in Syria.” He also noted ongoing exchanges of ideas with Türkiye regarding Syria, adding, “Each party involved in the region has its narrative, but we are not obliged to accept all perspectives.”

The spokesperson revealed that Iran has withdrawn its diplomats and military counselors from Syria and advised its citizens against traveling to the country due to ongoing uncertainties. “I don’t believe there are any Iranian citizens in Syria at present,” he concluded.

These days, the topic of comparing the Taliban and Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) has become a hot topic in the media outlets and social networks. The head of HTS recently said that Syria will not turn into another Afghanistan, because both countries have different social and cultural situations and Afghanistan has tribal structures.

His words have provoked different reactions from Afghan social media users – some have confirmed these statements of Jolani, but some have opposed them. However, the words of the leader of the HTS delegation that Syria will not become another Afghanistan and his gentle and flexible approach to the people have attracted the attention of many.

Jolani has now become the next leader of Syria from the leadership of an old “terrorist” group, and both countries, including Russia, which supported Bashar Assad’s regime, also want political interaction with him. Although it is too early to believe all the words of Jolani, it is clear that he has so far introduced himself as a practical and moderate figure.

He has been able to gain the attention of the Syrian people and the media and be ahead of other Islamists. On the other side of the story, we are dealing with the Taliban, the group that in the last three years has only secretly invited people to follow them with the language of force and violence, including threats, beatings, arrests, torture, and murders. The Taliban came to reform the people they believed in, not to listen to the people’s demands through moderation and to respect the internationally accepted principles.

If we analyze the current situation of Syria and Afghanistan from the point of view of political realism, then we are faced with two different attitudes: one representative is the Tahrir al-Sham group led by Ahmed al-Shara and the other representative is the Taliban group led by Mullah Hibatullah.

“Bad” or “worse” “terrorists”, a common scourge of realism in today’s politics.

Both groups are hardline Islamic groups and have extensive backgrounds in “terrorism”, but their attitudes differ from each other. The first group tries to conform to the demands of the people and the world, while the second group stubbornly wants the people and the world to submit to their demands.

The first group wants to interact with the people and the world, but the second group insists that they will not interact.

HTS’s leader (L) and the Taliban Prime Minister (R)

The main fear of the Taliban and other ideological groups, whether they are right-wing or left-wing, is death. Based on this reason, in order to preserve their old beliefs and sacred values, which have become old since time and are no longer hurting the society in the process of change, they are willing to commit any kind of crime.

Some groups, such as Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, when they realize the failure of their long-term efforts to achieve their imaginary and ambitious goals, they come to the conclusion that without accepting flexibility and leaving aside reality for political stability, which is always changing, he has no other choice.

These groups, however outwardly, are trying to change, but all these efforts continue until their power bases are threatened.

For another example, if we compare Hayat Tahrir al-Sham with the Taliban, considering what we have seen in Syria in this short period of time, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham is considered a “good” armed group by the countries of the world – known as, while the Taliban have proved that they are “evil” in their three years of actions. “Good” armed groups like Jolani go along with the world and give up ideology, even if only temporarily.

He is a pragmatist and knows that the world is not going his way, and that he must submit to the ruling order of the world. Therefore, “good” armed groups are better than “bad” armed groups who never want to give up their ideological selfishness and be ready for compromise and reconciliation.

The existence of the worst, such as ISIS, makes the others ‘better’.