Syrian army soldiers filmed chanting death threats against Jews in Damascus

Syrian army soldiers were filmed chanting death threats against Jews outside the historic Damascus Citadel on Saturday, according to Arab media reports and footage published Sunday. The soldiers, standing in formation, shouted slogans including "I am coming for you, Jew…I will make your blood flow in rivers," alongside "Allahu Akbar" (God is the greatest), expressing solidarity with Gaza.

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I am coming for you, Jew…I will make your blood flow in rivers.

This demonstration occurred after Israel rejected a peace proposal for Gaza, reiterating its demand for Hamas to be disarmed. Public threats against Israel by Syrian security personnel have become more frequent since Ahmed al-Sharaa assumed leadership in 2024. Footage from December showed members of Syria's 60th Division issuing threats toward Israel.

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Allahu Akbar

Professor Eyal Zisser, a Middle East expert at Tel Aviv University, stated that such rhetoric is not surprising, as Syria's new security apparatus has absorbed members of radical Islamist organizations. Zisser noted that Sharaa faces a challenge balancing support from Washington with the backing of Islamist factions that helped him gain power.

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I’m not surprised [by this incident]. Some Christians are being attacked, women are being attacked, minorities and other groups are being attacked. This is the new Syria.

While Sharaa has attempted to project a more moderate image to Western governments, distancing himself from his former leadership of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), reports highlight efforts to improve the country's international standing. Damascus has announced foiling a planned attack on a rabbi and has reportedly offered kosher menus and returned confiscated property to Syrian Jews. However, Zisser questioned the impact of these efforts, given the near absence of a Jewish community in Syria, and observed that attacks on minorities and other groups persist, characterizing it as "the new Syria."

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On the one hand, the regime wants to send a message to the outside world that everything is okay. On the other hand, it needs the support of these people, so it can't confront them.