Introduction
The world is witnessing an unprecedented surge in the activation of terrorist cells and the growth of extremist ideology. Reports indicate that Syria, under the control of Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, is being transformed into a land of Jihad and a launchpad for exporting this violence globally. This threat is no longer theoretical; it has targeted Western interests and American citizens, and its intensity has recently escalated to target Jews worldwide.
In less than a year, two American soldiers and an American civilian interpreter were killed in attacks linked to forces operating under or with the cover of the de facto authority. Additionally, an American citizen was killed in the Suwayda governorate in a horrific execution-style murder. This coincides with increasing terrorist attacks targeting Jewish communities globally, confirming the expansion of the danger’s scope.
Al-Jolani: The Series of Transformations Towards Globalism and the Infiltration of Foreign Fighters
Since Abu Mohammed al-Jolani assumed power, his policy has undergone a radical shift in goals and rhetoric, leading to the growth of the global extremist wave:
• The Recent Past and the Rhetoric of Expansion: Al-Jolani’s recent attempts to present himself as a pragmatic leader contradict his explicitly stated past rhetoric. Al-Jolani himself had previously declared the phrase “Death to America,” a clear indication of radical hostility towards the West. He also stated that “with this spirit, brothers, we will not only reach Damascus, but Jerusalem awaits us,” confirming the expansionist, jihadist ambition that transcends Syrian borders.
• Escalation of External Threat: Following the consolidation of his authority, the severity of external threats increased. Forces affiliated with him organized military parades by the so-called “Ministry of Defense” threatening Jews and explicitly vowing to “liberate Gaza,” which represents a declaration of a transnational jihadist project.
• Foreign Control over Authority: Clear evidence of the dominance of jihadist ideology over state institutions is the presence of figures like Ahmad Muaffaq Zaidan in authority. This individual, a Syrian writer specializing in Pakistani and Afghan affairs, and media advisor to the President of the Syrian Arab Republic, Ahmad al-Sharaa (al-Jolani), and former Al Jazeera bureau chief in Pakistan, is an example of many. Foreign fighters have seized control of the army and are being widely granted Syrian nationality, and the backgrounds of the leaders in the current government are all from Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham, confirming that the actual authority is a jihadist one with an international character.
Systematic Violence and Internal Sectarian Cleansing
The jihadist project has not been limited to external threats; it has translated internally into systematic violence against indigenous Syrian minorities, igniting the fuse of regional extremism:
• Minority Massacres and Existential Threat: Various regions have witnessed a series of massacres and violations, including massacres in the coastal region targeting Alawites and Christians, followed by crimes against Christians such as the bombing of the Mar Elias Church in Damascus. Massacres in Jaramana and Sahnaya also targeted Druze and Christians. These actions, in addition to threatening the Druze with deportation to Israel and describing them as Jews, are a clear application of the rigid doctrine of Ibn Taymiyyah.
• Daily Violations: These major attacks are accompanied by systematic daily violations including cases of kidnapping, rape, bombing, destruction of religious shrines, burning of lands, and forced displacement.
• Mass Support for Extremism: The arena witnesses massive demonstrations (described by some as “million-strong”) supporting the ruling authority, openly chanting threats and vows of liquidation against Jews, Druze, Alawites, and Kurds, which provides popular cover for the exclusionary ideology.
The Wave of Global Terrorism and Export from Syria
The synchronization of this internal and external escalation with international terrorist incidents raises serious questions about the role of al-Jolani’s authority as a starting point for feeding global cells:
• The Sydney Attack (December 2025): In a striking example of the global growth of terrorism, Bondi Beach in Sydney witnessed a terrorist attack targeting Jews (celebrating Hanukkah), resulting in the death of 15 people, including a Holocaust survivor and a 10-year-old girl, in addition to the gunmen. This attack, whose perpetrators declared allegiance to the “Islamic State” organization (ISIS), reflects the effectiveness of transferring extremist ideology from core conflict zones as part of the growing wave of violence.
• The White House Incident: These incidents are compounded by previous assaults, such as the White House incident where security guards were killed, confirming that jihadist ideology knows no geographical boundaries.
Conclusion
The escalating terrorism, whether in the massacres on the Syrian coast, the church bombings, the targeting of American soldiers, or the attack on Bondi Beach, are all connected threads pointing to a single source: the environment of rampant jihadist ideology that has transformed in Syria from a factional state to an expansionist state project.
We do not need a microscope to discover the truth. The systematic violence against internal minorities, the explicit threat of global Jihad, and the ongoing massacres are all evidence that al-Jolani’s authority is turning Syria into a center for exporting extremism—a danger that must be met with urgent international accountability.