New fighting in Syria and ramifications for Israel

Damascus, Capital of Syria

Syrian opposition troops were fighting today and claimed to make progress:

2 February 2013

Syrian rebels captured a strategic neighborhood near Aleppo’s international airport on Saturday, putting opposition fighters in control of a key road that the regime has used to ferry supplies and reinforcements to soldiers fighting in the embattled northern city, activists said…

The opposition’s Western backers, including the United States, have been reluctant to supply rebels with more sophisticated weapons because of the increased influence of an al-Qaida-affiliated group among the anti-Assad fighters on the front lines. The Islamists growing prominence in the Syrian opposition has fueled fears that Muslim radicals might try to hijack the revolt that started as peaceful protests against Assad, whose family has ruled Syria for more than 40 years.

In Germany, Vice President Joe Biden said, “The opposition (to Assad) continues to grow stronger.” http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/syrian-rebels-capture-key-area-aleppo-airport-18384424

The opposition to Syria’s government has gotten stronger. But what might this mean for the tiny nation of Israel? Notice something that the opposition said yesterday:

Syrian opposition leaders and rebels on Friday slammed President Bashar Assad for not responding to a rare Israeli airstrike near Damascus, calling it proof of his weakness and acquiescence to the Jewish State.

The opposition’s sharp reaction underlines how those seeking to topple the Syrian leader might be more prepared to tangle with Israel if they came to power…

Many among Syria’s disparate opposition leaders are Syrian and Arab nationalists fiercely opposed to the Jewish State.

Mouaz al-Khatib, a 52-year-old preacher-turned-activist, has been criticized by some for calling Zionism a “cancerous movement” and praising Iraq’s late dictator Saddam Hussein for “terrorizing the Jews.”

The umbrella group is dominated by members of the fundamentalist Muslim Brotherhood, which is known for its enmity to Israel. And among the overwhelmingly Sunni Muslim rebels who are fighting to end Assad’s rule, the Islamic extremists are gaining dominance.

Labwani, the Syrian dissident, told the AP that “unlike Assad, we know who the real enemy is.” ttp://www.foxnews.com/world/2013/02/01/opposition-slams-syria-assad-says-it-would-take-tougher-line-against-israel-for/#ixzz2JkyDdcvF

If Israel strikes Syria again, all bets are off

Telegraph.co.uk (blog) – ‎2 February 2013

With every passing week, we see more and more evidence that Syria’s civil war is both seeping out of the country’s borders and, like a flame sucking in oxygen, is pulling regional powers in at the same time.

So, the USA, while wanting Syria’s Assad removed, seems to be backing a group that wishes to take military action against Israel. Israel is concerned and greatly at risk.

The reality is that the Bible suggests that a Sunni Muslim backed confederation will form (it does not mention the term Sunni Muslim, but the nations mentioned in the confederation are currently mainly Sunni Muslim), want to destroy Israel, and eventually will get European backing. Notice:

3 They have taken crafty counsel against Your people,
And consulted together against Your sheltered ones.
4 They have said, “Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation,
That the name of Israel may be remembered no more.”

5 For they have consulted together with one consent;
They form a confederacy against You:
6 The tents of Edom and the Ishmaelites;
Moab and the Hagrites;
7 Gebal, Ammon, and Amalek;
Philistia with the inhabitants of Tyre;
8 Assyria also has joined with them;
They have helped the children of Lot. (Psalms 83:3-8)

Here is an explanation of the above that was published over three decades ago:

King David of ancient Israel in a prophetic psalm (Psalm 83) provides additional insight into the Mideast picture. Germany (Assyria in Bible prophecy) and perhaps the rest of Europe will be in league in the future with a union of Arab nations–a vast confederacy bound together in an effort to crush out the name “Israel” from the face of the earth! This Arab-Moslem confederacy may very well be the previously mentioned “king of the south”–a sphere of power encompassing vast portions of the Islamic world.

“They have said, Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation; that the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance. For they have consulted together with one consent: they are confederate against thee: The tabernacles of Edom [Esau or modern-day Turkey, a non-Arab but Islamic nation], and the Ishmaelites [Saudi Arabia]; of Moab [part of Jordan], and the Hagarenes [anciently these peoples dwelt in the area known as Syria today]; Gebal [Lebanon], and Ammon [modern Jordan], and Amalek [part of the Turks]; the Philistines [the modern Palestinians] with the inhabitants of Tyre [Lebanon]; Assur [whose descendants, the Assyrians, migrated to Germany] also is joined with them: they have holpen the children of Lot [Jordan and Western Iraq]” (Psalm 83:4-8)…

But in the end, this European-Arab alliance will prove short-lived…And the king of the north shall come against him [the king of the south]…The Arab-Moslem Confederation will, of course, be thrown into chaotic disarray in the fact of invasion. (Stump K. The Arab World in Prophecy. Plain Truth, December 1979)

So, according to the above, the Hagarenes of Psalm 83 are represented by modern Syria. And that they will be part of a confederation that will decide to eliminate Israel (though the confederation itself will not last).

And currently, it looks like the opposition to the Assad regime is gaining strength and at least parts of it claim that Israel is the real enemy.

More trouble is coming to Israel (Daniel 11:31) and Syria. Damascus, Syria’s capital, will be destroyed (Isaiah 17:1). Yet, an Islamic confederation that will include the land of Syria is coming (Daniel 11:40-43; Ezekiel 30:1-8; Psalm 83:4-8) is coming and it will not end up being good for the tiny nation of Israel.

“And what I say to you, I say to all: Watch!” (Mark 13:37).

Some articles of possibly related interest may include:

Is There A Future King of the South? Some no longer believe there needs to be. Might Egypt, Islam, Iran, Arabs, or Ethiopia be involved? Might this King be called the Mahdi? What does the Bible say?
The Arab and Islamic World In the Bible, History, and Prophecy The Bible discusses the origins of the Arab world and discusses the Middle East in prophecy. What is ahead for the Middle East and those who follow Islam? What about the Imam Mahdi? What lies ahead for Turkey, Iran, and the other non-Arabic Muslims?
Anglo – America in Prophecy & the Lost Tribes of Israel Are the Americans, Canadians, English, Scottish, Welsh, Australians, Anglo (non-Dutch) Southern Africans, and New Zealanders descendants of Joseph? Where are the lost ten-tribes of Israel? Who are the lost tribes of Israel? What will happen to Jerusalem and the Jews in Israel? Will God punish the U.S.A., Canada, United Kingdom, and other Anglo nations? Why might God allow them to be punished first?