Mohammed Al-Julani: Israel has violated our sovereignty

In his first major policy statements, Al-Jolani, who heads Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, addressed the thorny issue of Israeli cross-border operations. "While Israel has clearly violated our sovereignty, our focus must remain on Syria's future," he said during a wide-ranging weekend address.

Al-Jolani dismissed Israeli security concerns as "unfounded" but emphasized diplomatic solutions over military responses. "Syria needs institutions and stability now, not new conflicts," he said. "We're looking to build a normal country with proper laws and governance."

His comments also signaled a major shift in Syria's relationship with its traditional allies. While declaring that Iranian and Russian influence in Syria "has ended," Al-Jolani kept the door open for future diplomacy. "We're not seeking enemies," he noted, suggesting both nations would have opportunities to "rebuild relationships on new terms."

The careful balancing act - criticizing Israeli actions while avoiding inflammatory rhetoric, and asserting independence from Iran and Russia while leaving room for diplomatic ties - suggests Syria's new leadership may be trying to chart a more pragmatic course in regional politics.

Considering the rebels' history and the $10 million bounty still on Al-Julani, Israel's prudent actions make a lot of sense.