Representative Mike Waltz (R-FL), who is set to become President-elect Donald Trump's national security adviser, discussed the ramifications of this shift during an appearance on Fox News's *Special Report*. He emphasized that Israel should receive significant credit for putting Iran on the defensive.

"While it's positive that Assad is no longer in power, this creates a vacuum. We're still evaluating the new group [Hayat Tahrir al-Shams (HTS)] and its leader, [Abu Mohammed] al-Jolani, who is known as a terrorist. On one hand, he isn't currently executing former Assad officials, which is a small sign of progress. However, we're monitoring the situation closely," Waltz stated.

Waltz commended Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for "strong actions" against Hezbollah, which he believes have significantly weakened Iran's position, especially as Russia is preoccupied with its conflict in Ukraine, leaving the Assad regime exposed.