Rep. Joe Wilson calls Israeli strikes on Syria “suicidal,” warning they undermine Trump’s peace efforts and empower Iran.

Wilson Warns of Danger in Israeli Strikes on Syria

In a rare and forceful public rebuke of Israeli military policy, Representative Joe Wilson, Republican of South Carolina and co-chair of the Israel caucus, sharply condemned Israel’s recent airstrikes on Syria. Speaking in an emotional call, Wilson said the strikes are “insulting and mocking to President Donald Trump,” who recently lifted sanctions on Syria to support a new path for economic prosperity after Bashar al-Assad’s regime.

Wilson relayed that he urged Israeli Ambassador Yechiel Leiter to convey his warning to officials in Tel Aviv, cautioning that such attacks could derail months of back-channel negotiations aimed at normalizing relations between Israel and Syria. He argued that the strikes are undermining U.S.-led efforts for a new regional peace agreement modeled on the Abraham Accords, as well as normalization talks between Israel and Saudi Arabia. “It’s so sad to me, it’s so detrimental,” Wilson said, reflecting on the fragile diplomatic progress now in jeopardy.

Regional Stability and Strategic Risks

The congressman warned of severe regional consequences if the conflict in Syria expands, including further strain on NATO’s relationship with Turkey, deeper fragmentation among Druze and Kurdish populations across the region, and the risk of an ISIS resurgence that could threaten Israel directly. Wilson also emphasized the broader strategic danger, noting that the strikes empower both Iran and Russia. “Efforts should be made to expel [Vladimir Putin’s forces], not to create destabilization,” he said, adding that Moscow’s military presence in Syria is used to project power across Africa and the Mediterranean.

He was particularly critical of the claim that the attacks were necessary to protect the Druze minority in Syria, calling it “contrived and misunderstood.” According to Wilson, the real threat to Israel comes from Tehran, not Damascus: “The enemy is Khamenei and the enemy is the head of the snake. It is not Damascus. The head of the snake is Tehran.” He cautioned that destabilizing Syria would allow Iran to rebuild regional proxy forces including Hamas and Hezbollah, and warned of “massive loss of life within Israel itself” if the focus shifts away from Iran.

Calls for Restraint and Diplomatic Pressure

Amid escalating violence and rhetoric, the Trump administration has called on Israel to halt further strikes and resume direct talks with Damascus. U.S. Special Envoy Tom Barrack has reportedly reached out to Israeli officials, urging restraint, while Secretary of State Marco Rubio described the situation as “troubling and horrifying,” calling for de-escalation and renewed diplomacy.

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz defended the actions as necessary to protect minority communities, insisting on the need to prevent Syrian attacks on Israelis. However, Wilson and other critics argue that the attacks will only empower Iran and destabilize the region further. With diplomatic channels fraying and new fronts emerging, the future of the U.S.-brokered normalization process hangs in the balance.

As Washington continues to press for calm and regional leaders weigh their next moves, the implications of Israel’s actions in Syria threaten to reverberate well beyond the immediate conflict, shaping the prospects for peace and security in the Middle East for years to come.