“When she was born, we realized immediately that something was wrong with her heart and that she needed treatment,” says Nadia, the child’s mother.

In the buffer zone beyond the Israel–Syria border, IDF reservists maintain a Hanukkah tradition amid a broader strategic shift.

There is “zero difference in ideology” between slain Hamas terrorist leader Yahya Sinwar and Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, insists Diaspora Minister Amichai Chikli.

“Our role is to defend the citizens of Israel against every threat—and that is what we will do,” said the Israeli defense minister.

“The possibility of Syria presenting a conventional threat to Israel in the next 10 or even 20 years is not high,” says researcher Assaf Orion.

Israeli observers assess the chaotic reality on the Syrian border, where a mix of jihadist factions operate and where the IDF established positions.

Terrorist groups are establishing themselves in the area, including Palestinian Islamic Jihad, Houthi-affiliated elements, ISIS and Al-Jamaa al-Islamiya.

The delegation aims “to listen and learn, and to evaluate the leadership, especially in Syria,” Israeli Ambassador to the UN Danny Danon told JNS.

Trump hinted at rising tensions between Jerusalem and Damascus, writing that “it is very important that Israel maintain a strong and true dialogue with Syria.”