Israeli Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked. Photo: Reuters / Amir Cohen.

A top Israeli official has expressed concern over the fate of the Kurds in Syria following US President Donald Trump’s decision to withdraw American troops from the country.

“The Kurds are great heroes,” Israeli Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked told Army Radio on Sunday, “Because of them, the West succeeded in its fight against ISIS.”

“They are allies, and I hope that they will win in their battle against the Turks,” she added. “I hope that the international community will prevent [Turkish President Recep Tayyip] Erdogan from massacring the Kurds.”

Regarding Trump’s move itself, Shaked — a member of the right-wing HaBayit HaYehudi party — said it “doesn’t help Israel.”

“It strengthens Erdogan, an antisemitic war criminal who carries out massacres of the Kurdish people, and does so with a wink from the international community,” she continued.

Israel, she emphasized, would still, however, “know how to defend ourselves after this withdrawal, if it takes place.”

“It’s true this opens more avenues for passage between Iran and Syria, but just as we know how to defend ourselves now, we’ll know how to deal with the new situation,” she stated.