Syrian army soldiers filmed chanting death threats against Jews in Damascus

Syrian Arab Army soldiers were filmed chanting death threats against Jews outside the Damascus Citadel on Saturday, following Israel's rejection of a 15-point Gaza proposal. The chants included 'I am coming for you Jew…I will make your blood flow in rivers.' Experts warn of extremist influence in Syria's military.

Soldiers from the Syrian Arab Army were filmed chanting death threats against Jews outside the historic Damascus Citadel on Saturday, according to Arab media reports and footage published on Sunday. The soldiers stood in formation, chanting 'Allahu akhbar' and 'I will sacrifice my body' in protest of the situation in Gaza, as reported by Al Araby TV. The demonstration came after Israel rejected the 15-point plan for the Gaza Strip proposed by the Board of Peace, demanding Hamas first be disarmed. Prof. Eyal Zisser, a Middle East expert from Tel Aviv University, said the frequent threats from Syrian ministries and military officials were 'natural' given that Syria's security apparatus integrated active members of radical Islamist groups. He suggested that Sharaa was unlikely to confront radical elements within the security forces, even after major sectarian attacks left thousands dead last year and minorities continue to face attacks. Dr. Zoe Levornik, a security researcher at the Alma Research and Education Center, described the video as 'concerning,' noting that much of the new SAA came from HTS, Jabhat al-Nusra, and other jihadist organizations. She warned that all five commanders designated to lead the new regional corps have backgrounds in such organizations, raising concerns about HTS's gradual takeover of the military.