Syrian army chants for Gaza, Israeli minister warns of war
The Chronify
An Israeli cabinet minister has suggested warning that a future conflict with Syria may be unavoidable, following the circulation of a video showing Syrian soldiers chanting in support of Palestinians in Gaza.
An Israeli cabinet minister has suggested warning that a future conflict with Syria may be unavoidable, following the circulation of a video showing Syrian soldiers chanting in support of Palestinians in Gaza.
The footage was recorded during a military parade held in Damascus last Monday, one of several events marking the first anniversary of the collapse of Bashar al-Assad’s government.
During the march, Syrian troops recited a chant vowing destruction against their enemies and expressing solidarity with Gaza. The slogan included threats such as turning their own blood into ammunition and creating “rivers” from their enemy’s blood.
Syria’s interim president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, along with other senior officials, attended the event.
The video was later reshared on X by Amichai Chikli, Israel’s minister for diaspora affairs and combating antisemitism. Chikli reposted the clip—originally uploaded by the far-right account Visegrad24—with the caption: “War is inevitable.” The same chant has appeared in previous military parades, including those featuring Hamas’s Qassam Brigades in early 2023. Enab Baladi, an independent Syrian outlet, notes that variations of the chant are also used by the Algerian army.
A day later, Chikli escalated his rhetoric, posting a long message accusing Syria of harbouring “jihadist terror” and claiming that “a full Islamic jihadist caliphate” now borders Israel. He added that Israel would not allow such a threat to strengthen, invoking lessons from the 7 October attacks. He did not clarify what steps Israel might take.
Israel’s Army Radio, citing unnamed security sources, reported that high-ranking defence officials had convened to discuss the parade footage. One official told the station that Israel views the Syrian leadership with “complete suspicion” and cannot afford to underestimate it.
Israel has controlled the Syrian Golan Heights since 1967 in violation of international law, and after Assad’s fall expanded deeper into southern Syria. In December 2024, Israel took full control of a UN-monitored buffer zone that had previously separated Syrian and Israeli forces.
Speaking at a conference in Doha last weekend, President Sharaa accused Israel of provoking regional instability to distract from what he called “horrific massacres” in Gaza. He claimed Israel had launched more than 1,000 airstrikes and 400 ground incursions into Syria since 8 December 2024, the most recent being a deadly assault on Beit Jinn in rural Damascus.
According to Syrian media, residents of Beit Jinn attempted to fend off the Israeli operation, prompting Israeli aircraft to strike to prevent their soldiers from being surrounded. Israel reported six injured soldiers, three of them seriously.
US President Donald Trump also commented on the incident, cautioning Israel against interfering with Syria’s internal progress. Writing on Truth Social, he said the United States was “very satisfied” with developments in Syria and urged Israel to maintain constructive dialogue with Damascus.
Sharaa noted that Syria is coordinating with other nations to pressure Israel into withdrawing from territories seized over the past year.
The footage was recorded during a military parade held in Damascus last Monday, one of several events marking the first anniversary of the collapse of Bashar al-Assad’s government.
During the march, Syrian troops recited a chant vowing destruction against their enemies and expressing solidarity with Gaza. The slogan included threats such as turning their own blood into ammunition and creating “rivers” from their enemy’s blood.
Syria’s interim president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, along with other senior officials, attended the event.
The video was later reshared on X by Amichai Chikli, Israel’s minister for diaspora affairs and combating antisemitism. Chikli reposted the clip—originally uploaded by the far-right account Visegrad24—with the caption: “War is inevitable.” The same chant has appeared in previous military parades, including those featuring Hamas’s Qassam Brigades in early 2023. Enab Baladi, an independent Syrian outlet, notes that variations of the chant are also used by the Algerian army.
A day later, Chikli escalated his rhetoric, posting a long message accusing Syria of harbouring “jihadist terror” and claiming that “a full Islamic jihadist caliphate” now borders Israel. He added that Israel would not allow such a threat to strengthen, invoking lessons from the 7 October attacks. He did not clarify what steps Israel might take.
Israel’s Army Radio, citing unnamed security sources, reported that high-ranking defence officials had convened to discuss the parade footage. One official told the station that Israel views the Syrian leadership with “complete suspicion” and cannot afford to underestimate it.
Israel has controlled the Syrian Golan Heights since 1967 in violation of international law, and after Assad’s fall expanded deeper into southern Syria. In December 2024, Israel took full control of a UN-monitored buffer zone that had previously separated Syrian and Israeli forces.
Speaking at a conference in Doha last weekend, President Sharaa accused Israel of provoking regional instability to distract from what he called “horrific massacres” in Gaza. He claimed Israel had launched more than 1,000 airstrikes and 400 ground incursions into Syria since 8 December 2024, the most recent being a deadly assault on Beit Jinn in rural Damascus.
According to Syrian media, residents of Beit Jinn attempted to fend off the Israeli operation, prompting Israeli aircraft to strike to prevent their soldiers from being surrounded. Israel reported six injured soldiers, three of them seriously.
US President Donald Trump also commented on the incident, cautioning Israel against interfering with Syria’s internal progress. Writing on Truth Social, he said the United States was “very satisfied” with developments in Syria and urged Israel to maintain constructive dialogue with Damascus.
Sharaa noted that Syria is coordinating with other nations to pressure Israel into withdrawing from territories seized over the past year.
