PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
July 16, 2025
CONTACTS: Dede Laugesen, [email protected]
Rabbi Pesach Wolicki, [email protected]
Joint Briefing on Syria:
Al Qaeda Is in Charge, Emboldened
Israel Intervenes to Protect the Druze,
Other Minorities; Threatens al-Julani’s Regime
Virtual Program, 7:00-8:00 a.m. ET, July 17, 2025
WASHINGTON, D.C.— In recent days, the Syria’s formerly designated terrorist group known as HTS has been implicated in murderous attacks against Christians and Druze as part of that al Qaeda franchise’s efforts to establish by force the control its leader, Ahmed al-Sharaa (better known by his nom de guerre, Abu Mohammad al-Julani) seeks over large parts of Syria in which various minorities are still in charge. While al-Sharaa – whose presidency has been recognized and rewarded with sanctions relief by President Trump – professes to condemn such crimes against humanity and disavows any connection to their perpetrators, in reality, the jihadists are, at best, tolerated by his government, if it is not actually fully complicit in their rampages.
The Israeli government has come to the aid of the Syrian Druze, Christians and other minorities, including by attacking tanks and other heavy equipment the government would appear to have dispatched for the purpose of massacring members of the Druze community, many of whom are related to Israeli Druze. The Netanyahu government is sufficiently alarmed at what is taking place that it has threatened to bring down al-Sharaa’s regime if such carnage continues.
The Victory Coalition and Israel 365 Action will jointly co-sponsor their fifth briefing from 7:00- 8:00 a.m. ET on Thursday, July 17th to examine what is taking place in Syria, its strategic significance for that nation’s long-suffering people and the region, the implications of what appears to be ongoing state-sponsored, or at least tolerated, jihadism for U.S. policy towards the regime in Damascus, and the likelihood of decisive action by Israel against al-Julani and his allies.
WHAT: A Virtual Joint Briefing on “Whither Syria – Is al-Sharaa Part of the Solution or a Central Part of the Problem?”
WHEN: 7:00-8:00 a.m. ET on Thursday, July 17th.
WHO:
Moderator:
- Frank Gaffney, President, Institute for the American Future; Member, Victory Coalition; host, “Securing America”
Panelists:
- Mansur Ashkar, Spokesman for the Druze community; Israel Defense Forces Special Forces veteran; host of the Mansur Ashkar Podcast on YouTube; on X at @MansurAshkar
- Rabbi Pesach Wolicki, Executive Director, Israel365 Action; columnist, Jerusalem Post; co-host, “Shoulder-to-Shoulder” podcast
- Dr. David Wurmser, PhD, Former Middle East Advisor to the Vice President and the National Security Advisor; Director, Middle East Program, Center for Security Policy; naval intelligence veteran
Co-sponsors:
The Victory Coalition’s mission is to focus on the need for victory over those determined to impose Sharia, whether by violent jihad or the stealthy, subversive kind, on Americans here at home and on their friends and allies in the Middle East and beyond.
Israel365 Action is a fearless advocacy movement standing unapologetically for the Jewish people’s God-given right to the entire land of Israel. We will never surrender Judea & Samaria – the biblical heartland of the Jewish people – and we boldly confront Israel’s enemies wherever they operate.
HOW: Register to participate at VictoryCo.org.
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CONTACTS:
To interview representatives of the Victory Coalition, contact Dede Laugesen, [email protected]. To interview representatives of Israel365 Action, contact Rabbi Pesach Wolicki, [email protected].