One year since the fall of Assad
Chikli: War in Syria is "Inevitable" | WATCH
Diaspora Minister posts video of Syrian soldiers shouting pro-Hamas slogans and says it's only a matter of time. While civilians on the ground in Syria say the same, Trump Administration continues to pressure Israel to stay at the table.
Diaspora Affairs Minister Amichai Chikli declared late Tuesday that war with Syria is “inevitable,” posting the statement in English alongside footage of Syrian troops chanting pro-Gaza slogans during a military parade in Damascus. The event marked one year since the fall of President Assad, and the video shows soldiers marching while repeating, “Gaza, Gaza, our call for unity, victory and steadfastness, night and day.”
Chikli’s warning comes as reports swirl about an emerging US-mediated security arrangement between Israel and Syria. Earlier this week, a Saudi newspaper claimed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu refused to sign a draft agreement on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in September. The Prime Minister’s Office rejected the report as “absolute fake news,” acknowledging American-sponsored meetings but insisting no understandings were reached.
A senior source in Damascus familiar with the talks told N12 that the final text of the agreement is “almost ready” and in its final stages. “It is a matter of a short time before a breakthrough may occur,” the source said, adding that the remaining disputes involve how the agreement would be implemented in practice.
Meanwhile, Damascus marked the anniversary of al-Shar’a’s rise with large-scale military displays, including parades, helicopters circling the capital and long convoys of troops moving through the streets. But residents from minority communities inside Syria told N12 the celebrations do not reflect the deep anxiety felt among non-Sunni groups.
M., an Alawite woman from Syria’s coastal region, said the current warming of relations with Israel is “nothing more than buying time.” According to her, the regime is using the talks to delay confrontation while rallying hardline supporters. “It prepares the ground for tragic events similar to those of October 7,” she said.
The tension comes as Washington increases pressure on Israel to avoid military actions in Syria that could jeopardize the pending agreement. Last week President Donald Trump publicly warned Israel against steps that could destabilize Syria’s current trajectory, urging renewed dialogue with the Shar’a government. His message followed an Israeli strike two weeks ago that killed 20 Syrians, including civilians. According to a senior US official, Washington believes Israeli activity inside Syria is undermining American efforts to finalize the security deal.