After taking control of Damascus following the collapse of Bashar Al-Assad’s regime on December 8, 2024, HTS Islamist militants, in a video posted by Althawra Network Media on Facebook, declared that just as they entered the Umayyad Mosque in Damascus, they will enter the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem, the Prophet's Mosque in Medina, and the Kaaba in Mecca. They also advised the people of Gaza to remain patient, suggesting they would soon come to Jerusalem.
Fighter: " We have entered the Umayyad Mosque.
[...]
"This is the heart of the Abode of Islam. This is Damascus, the [land of] Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz, the land of Islam. This is Damascus. This is the camp of the Muslims. From here we are coming, oh Jerusalem. Be patient, oh people of Gaza. Say Allah Akbar!"
Group: "Allah Akbar! We respond to your call oh Al-Aqsa!"
[...]
Fighter: "We have entered Damascus and the Umayyad Mosque, shouting 'Allah Akbar! There is no god but Allah!'"
Group: "Say Allah Akbar! Allah Akbar!"
Fighter: "Just like that, Allah willing, we will enter the Al-Aqsa Mosque, the Prophet's Mosque [in Medina], and the Kaaba. We will enter these [mosques], Allah willing."
Group: "Say Allah Akbar! Allah Akbar!"