Israel launched missile strikes into Syria on September 8 that killed 18 people and wounded 43. The Syrian government says the missiles centered around the northwestern city of Masyaf. Some missiles also hit the port city of Tartus. Israel has yet to acknowledge the attacks.

Masyaf is home to the Scientific Studies and Research Center (ssrc). The ssrc is a large compound with multiple weapons manufacturing facilities. Its “Institute 6000” is a chemical weapons facility run in part by North Korean workers. Another facility develops precision-guided missiles Iran intends to export to Hezbollah.

Several media outlets later claimed Israel may have even sent soldiers in a raid on Masyaf. Syrian and Israeli media claimed Israeli special forces rappelled from helicopters after the air strikes with support from combat helicopters. Reportedly, the special forces came to remove equipment and documents from the missile development center and may have even captured Iranians.

Iran’s proxy empire includes Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad in Gaza, Hezbollah and Lebanon and the Houthis in Yemen. Since October 7 of last year, Iran has been using all these groups to attack Israel. Bashar Assad’s Syria is unique among these groups in that it is a sovereign state. It can maintain diplomatic connections the other groups cannot. It has a stronger veneer of legitimacy that enables it to obtain international aid and other finances. Syria also provides a crucial territorial link for Iran to reach Lebanon.

Syria the Weak Link?

Among Iran’s proxies, however, Syria is also arguably the least reliable. Despite allowing Iran to use its territory to arm Hezbollah, Assad has been dragging his feet in joining the fight against Israel. He hasn’t been constantly attacking like Hezbollah and Hamas have. If anything, in the face of Israeli strikes, Assad has generally refused to retaliate.

The latest Israeli attack is an escalation, however. Israel’s forces would have either had to fly through large areas of Syria or across Lebanon to reach the ssrc. That Assad didn’t stop such an attack makes him look weak.

Assad still lacks control of much of his country. Foreign-backed rebel groups still control much territory and aren’t looking to negotiate peace anytime soon. An active war with Israel could enflame Syria’s civil war. At the very least, it would kill the diplomatic legitimacy Assad has worked hard for years to redevelop.

Assad likely is aware Israel wouldn’t be targeting Syria if not for Iran and Hezbollah’s presence there. Increased friction from Israel may in turn increase friction with Iran. Assad may attempt to expel the Iranian military to make him less of a target.

In either event, Assad’s place in Iran’s “axis of resistance” is tenuous. He is, at least in terms of political will, the weakest link in Iran’s chain. This presents an opportunity for Iran’s enemies to exploit.

What the Bible Says

A prophecy in Psalm 83 gives this trend context. It describes a list of specific nations banding together to destroy the people of Israel. No such alliance, either in composition or in purpose, has ever formed in history. That is because it is a prophecy—for our time today.

It reads: “For they have consulted together with one consent: they are confederate against thee: the tabernacles of Edom, and the Ishmaelites; of Moab, and the Hagarenes; Gebal, and Ammon, and Amalek; the Philistines with the inhabitants of Tyre; Assure also is joined with them” (verses 5-8).

“You must know who the modern descendants of these peoples are to understand just how timely and relevant this prophecy is,” Mr. Flurry wrote in The King of the South. “Here are the modern names of these nations, as taught at Ambassador College under Herbert W. Armstrong: The Ishmaelites are Saudi Arabia; Moab and Ammon both refer to Jordan; the Hagarenes anciently dwelled in the land known as Syria today; the Philistines are the modern Palestinian Arabs; Gebal and Tyre are Lebanon.

“One people listed here that lies outside the region is Assur. At one time, this was the capital of Assyria, which is the term that biblical prophecy uses for modern-day Germany. Germany is part of this alliance and is, in fact, the power behind it!”

Another prophecy in Daniel 11:40 shows Europe (under the prophetic name “king of the north”) and its allies at war with Iran (called the “king of the south”). (See here for more information.) Verses 42-43 show that Iran’s principal allies will include Egypt, Libya and Ethiopia. For Iran and Germany to clash, and for Syria to ally with Germany, implies a break between Syria and Iran before then.

“Because of Psalm 83, we know that Syria will be allied with Germany after the attack on Iran,” Mr. Flurry wrote for our August 2024 print edition. “But I believe this momentous shift will almost certainly take place before Daniel 11:40 is fulfilled. This means we could see it happen very soon.”

“Losing Syria will be devastating to Iran,” Mr. Flurry continued. “It could very well be part of the reason for Iran to violently push at Europe. We don’t know all the details yet, but we need to watch this key Bible prophecy closely. We have known these prophecies for many years—now we are about to see them fulfilled!”

Where Israel factors into this is yet unknown. But Israel is currently against Syria. Since the October 7 terror attack, Assad has tried his best to stay out of the active fight. Recent developments suggest that Assad cannot remain inactive indefinitely. He may have to choose between severing his link with Iran or facing an Israeli invasion. At this point, either option would be painful. But if circumstances force him to choose, the consequences of that choice could be monumental.

To learn more, please read Mr. Flurry’s article, “Iran Is Losing Syria to Germany.”