The 14-year Syrian civil war pitted the US-NATO backed Sunni jihadists against the Syrian government forces aided by the Shiite resistance group Hezbollah.
During a February 24, 2026 address to Israel's internal security leadership, Netanyahu described the Shia axis as "wounded" due to sustained pressure, while warning of the emergence of a new Sunni axis. He characterized this Sunni axis not merely as a military threat but as a transnational ideological force capable of resurfacing under favorable conditions, particularly in contexts of political instability.
In August 2025, Netanyahu endorsed on Israeli media the 'Greater Israel' vision, which includes expanding Israeli sovereignty to include the West Bank, Gaza, and parts of neighboring countries like Jordan, Egypt, Syria, and Lebanon. Arab nations condemned the plan as an Israeli land grab in order to destroy any prospects of a Palestinian state.
In February, Tucker Carlson interviewed U.S. Ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, where he asked about a Bible verse in which God promises Abraham and his descendants land stretching from the Nile to the Euphrates.
Carlson said that this area would include "basically the entire Middle East," including parts of Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia and Iraq.
"I'm not sure it would go that far," Huckabee said, "but it would be a big piece of land."
Huckabee is a Christian Zionist and has said the U.S. and Israel shared a value system that "is rooted deeply in a biblical understanding of a worldview." He supports the recent Israeli annexation of the West Bank, despite being against international law and the official U.S. position.
Huckabee said that Israel is at war with the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt and Jordan, as part of a "seven-front war".
Carlson asked Huckabee to name the fronts, and Huckabee replied Lebanon, Egypt, Jordan, Yemen, Gaza, Iraq and Iran.
In the Arab Spring uprisings, the Muslim Brotherhood's popularity skyrocketed as protesters took to the streets to overthrow autocratic rulers.
Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Russia, Argentina, Germany and Kenya have all banned the Muslim Brotherhood.
The Syrian Muslim Brotherhood officially controlled the Syrian opposition to the Assad regime, but has been banned from Syria currently.
Sunni Muslim terrorist groups are extremist organizations adhering to a radicalized, militant interpretation of Sunni Islam, primarily driven by Salafi-Jihadist ideology. Major groups include ISIS (Islamic State), Al-Qaeda, Boko Haram, and various affiliates, which often target civilians, government forces, and other Muslims who do not share their ideology.
Strategic Motivations and Domestic Considerations
Israel has strategically created a narrative of 'dual enemies', both Shia and Sunni. This allows Israel to form alliances for security with both Western and regional actors.
At home, Netanyahu uses the dual enemy threat to divert domestic complaints about the genocide in Gaza, the aftermath of military operations, and the need to attack Iran without provocation.
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