Syrian Hearts Turn to Riyadh While Shunning Tehran and Tel Aviv: A New Middle Eastern Reality Emerges
A striking Foreign Affairs poll reveals that while Syrians overwhelmingly reject both Israel and Iran, they’re embracing Saudi Arabia with unprecedented enthusiasm—signaling a potential tectonic shift in regional alliances.
The Numbers Tell a Story of Transformation
The survey data paints a vivid picture of Syrian public opinion that challenges conventional wisdom about Middle Eastern dynamics. With only 4% of Syrians viewing Israel positively and a mere 5% holding favorable views of Iran, both regional powers find themselves in equally unfavorable positions among a population that has endured over a decade of devastating civil war. This symmetric rejection is particularly noteworthy given that Israel and Iran represent opposing poles in the region’s geopolitical spectrum.
What makes these findings even more remarkable is the contrast with attitudes toward other regional and international players. Saudi Arabia’s 87% approval rating among Syrians represents a stunning endorsement, especially considering the Kingdom’s complicated role in Syria’s conflict. Qatar follows closely at 83%, while Turkey maintains strong support at 73%. Even more surprising is that the United States, often portrayed as universally unpopular in the region, enjoys backing from over 60% of Syrians—a figure that dwarfs Russia’s modest 16% support despite Moscow’s military intervention on behalf of the Assad regime.
Beyond Traditional Sectarian Lines
These numbers suggest that Syrians are making pragmatic calculations about their future rather than following traditional sectarian or ideological alignments. The overwhelming rejection of normalization with Israel—with 92% viewing Israeli actions as a direct threat—reflects deep-seated Palestinian solidarity that transcends Syria’s internal divisions. Yet the equally low regard for Iran, Assad’s principal regional backer, indicates that sectarian affinity with Tehran’s Shia-led axis holds little sway over Syrian public opinion.
The embrace of Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states points to a population looking toward economic reconstruction and stability rather than ideological alignment. These countries represent potential sources of investment, jobs, and reconstruction funds that could help rebuild Syria’s shattered infrastructure and economy. This pragmatic outlook suggests that ordinary Syrians are exhausted by proxy conflicts and yearning for practical solutions to their daily struggles.
Implications for Regional Realignment
The poll results arrive at a crucial moment of regional recalibration. Saudi Arabia’s recent diplomatic overtures toward Damascus, including Syria’s readmission to the Arab League, appear to resonate with Syrian public sentiment in ways that Iran’s military support for Assad never could. This disconnect between regime alliances and public preferences could create interesting dynamics as Syria attempts to navigate its post-conflict relationships.
For policymakers in Washington, Jerusalem, and Tehran alike, these findings should prompt serious reflection. The United States’ relatively strong showing suggests there remains significant soft power potential despite years of limited engagement. Israel’s deeply negative ratings indicate that any Abraham Accords-style normalization with Syria remains a distant prospect, regardless of regime calculations. And Iran faces the uncomfortable reality that its expensive military and economic support for Assad has failed to win Syrian hearts and minds.
As the Middle East continues its gradual shift away from the rigid alliances of the past decade, Syrian public opinion may prove to be a leading indicator of broader regional trends. The question now is whether Damascus will—or can—align its foreign policy with the preferences of its people, or whether the gulf between regime priorities and public sentiment will remain yet another fault line in Syria’s fractured political landscape?
