Syria’s interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa’s recent televised address to the nation signals a notable escalation in rhetoric toward Israel, according to Mohamad Elmasry, a professor of media studies at the Doha Institute for Graduate Studies.
In comments to Al Jazeera, Elmasry said the speech carried a clear warning: while Syria does not seek war, it is prepared to respond forcefully if provoked. “He said it’s easy to start a war, but it’s not easy to control the end results of a war,” Elmasry noted.
The remarks were widely interpreted as a direct message to Israel, which has intensified airstrikes on Syrian territory amid a volatile standoff in southern Syria.
Elmasry emphasized that this speech marked a departure from al-Sharaa’s previously restrained public stance, particularly during earlier Israeli military actions. “It was a very significant shift from what we’ve heard — and sometimes not heard — from him in response to Israeli attacks,” he said.
Looking ahead, Elmasry warned that the region may be approaching a dangerous tipping point. “It really comes down to the extent to which Donald Trump and the United States are willing to rein in Israel,” he said, referencing Washington’s key role in managing the growing conflict.
The speech has added weight to international concerns that the situation between Syria and Israel could escalate further without swift diplomatic intervention.
