Syrian Soldiers Chant Jihad Against Israel
During a military parade in Damascus on Tuesday, Syrian soldiers were filmed chanting a declaration of jihad against Israel. This event sparked a stern warning from an Israeli minister.
Amichai Tsikri, Israel’s Minister of Diaspora Affairs, stated, “War is inevitable,” sharing a video that depicted the Syrian army marching through the streets. The parade also had Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa in attendance.
The video, verified independently, featured soldiers chanting phrases like, “Gaza, Gaza, our rallying cry, victory and steadfastness, night and day. O enemy, we rise. From the mountains of fire we make our way. From my blood I make ammunition. From your blood rivers flow.”
In response to the video, Tsikri told Fox News Digital about alarming reports from the Druze community regarding the situation in Suweida. He described the regime’s actions, comparing them to those of ISIS, stating, “A regime that kills like ISIS, rapes like ISIS, and destroys everything that is not itself like ISIS, even if it wears suits and plays basketball, is ISIS.”
The U.S., under the Trump administration, is advocating for a security agreement to stabilize the region between Syria and Israel. Recently, Al-Sharaa met with Trump at the White House.
Tom Barrack, the U.S. ambassador to Turkey, relayed to The Jerusalem Post that Damascus has shown no interest in invading Israel. He noted, “It was unthinkable not too long ago that Syria would join the anti-ISIS coalition.” Recently, he mentioned that the U.S. has successfully eliminated several Hezbollah and ISIS cells in Syria.
Regarding the evolving situation, Barrack highlighted that Israel views Syria as possibly the “most moderate response” in a complex Middle Eastern security environment. His remarks suggested that the success of the Abraham Accords, which normalized relations between Israel and several Sunni nations, could pave the way for future interactions with Syria.
In a statement during a recent briefing in Qatar, Al-Sharaa expressed a desire for Israel to withdraw its troops from Syrian territory and reaffirm commitment to the 1974 ceasefire agreement.
Israeli forces have taken proactive measures in southern Syria, aiming to create a demilitarized buffer zone to prevent militant incursions, particularly after the fall of the Assad regime. Regular operations target suspected militants within this zone, and recent reports indicated that Israeli actions resulted in significant casualties among terrorist suspects.
Al-Sharaa has previously had to address his past involvement with al-Qaeda, stressing the politicization of the term “terrorist.” He argued that true terrorists are those who harm innocent lives, asserting his actions were based on an “honorable” fight for his homeland.
Dan Duiker, director at the Jerusalem Center for Security and Diplomacy, remarked on the complexity of the ongoing security situation in Syria, noting the US’s involvement in stabilizing the region. He pointed out that groups allied with Iran’s Hezbollah are actively working to undermine the security arrangements with Israel, contributing to continued tensions and counterterrorism efforts.
Recently, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu emphasized the country’s commitment to protecting its borders against terrorist threats and called for agreements that include maintaining a buffer zone from Damascus to Mount Hermon.
This situation remains fluid, and it seems that, while there are hopeful strides towards negotiation, deep-seated mistrust continues to complicate matters.
