Minister Chikli Calls for Elimination of Syrian President

Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism Minister Amichai Chikli issued a sharp rebuke of Syria’s new leadership, stating that Israel cannot turn a blind eye to the brutal acts being carried out under its rule. In an urgent message, he demanded the assassination of Syrian President Ahmad al-Shara.

“We must not stand idly by in the face of the Islamist-Nazi terror regime of Al-Qaeda in a suit and tie,” Chikli wrote on X, sharing footage that documented assaults against Syrian minority groups.

“Anyone who thinks Ahmad al-Sharaa is a legitimate leader is gravely mistaken — he is a terrorist, a barbaric murderer who should be eliminated without delay,” Chikli declared, warning the world against recognizing al-Sharaa’s leadership.

“The horrific massacre of the Alawites was met with complete silence from Europe, and now we’re witnessing the same cruelty unleashed on the Druze. This regime of terror must be confronted head-on,” he added, decrying the lack of international response.

Chikli’s statements come on the heels of directives from Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz, who instructed the IDF to immediately target Syrian forces and arms entering the Suwayda region, in retaliation for Syrian attacks on local Druze populations.

Earlier Tuesday, troops loyal to Syrian President Al-Julani seized control of As-Suwayda, a largely Druze city in the south. The military’s entrance triggered panic among residents.

Witnesses say Syrian troops indiscriminately fired at civilians in the streets. Though exact numbers remain unclear, numerous casualties have been reported. Video footage widely shared online shows Druze individuals being degraded and mistreated by Syrian soldiers.

Locals described chaotic scenes of forced entries into homes, looting, and widespread military presence, including tanks rolling through the heart of the city.

In a recorded statement, the Druze community’s spiritual head, Hikmat al-Hijri, condemned the violence as an unfolding genocide. He accused Syrian security forces of breaking a non-aggression pact—brokered by Damascus with international oversight—by launching unprovoked attacks despite the Druze side holding to its commitments.

“This is a day to choose: either we stand together as Syrians and reject this humiliation, or we accept decades more of it,” al-Hijri said. He urged Druze communities worldwide to aid Suwayda “by any means possible.”

The latest developments represent a dramatic intensification of unrest in the region. Tensions have been simmering since July 11, when a Druze shopkeeper was kidnapped. That single event triggered a chain reaction of hostage-takings, shootouts, and mounting death tolls as Syrian forces advanced into Druze territory and met fierce resistance.

With the conflict escalating, Druze leaders in Suwayda have issued a full mobilization order, labeling the confrontation “a war for our existence.” Between 60 and 100 people—mostly Druze—are believed to have lost their lives in the recent fighting.