"Syria is drawing thousands of radical jihadi activists from the area and the world, who are basing themselves in the country, not only to topple (Syrian President Bashar) al-Assad, but also to promote the vision of a religious state,” Maj. Gen. Aviv Kochavi said on Wednesday upon his return from Washington DC.
"Right before our eyes a center of global jihad is developing on a scale that may affect not only Syria and the borders of Israel, but also Jordan and Sinai," he said.
The war in Syria started in March 2011, when pro-reform protests turned into a massive insurgency following intervention of western and regional states.
The unrest, which took in terrorist groups from across Europe, the Middle East and North Africa, has transpired as one of the bloodiest conflicts in recent history.
As the foreign-backed insurgency in Syria continues without an end in sight, the US government boosts its political and military support to Takfiri extremists.
Washington has remained indifferent about warnings by Russia and other world powers about the consequences of arming militant groups.
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