Syrian actress Sulaf Fawakherji has broken her silence to address the wave of criticism she faced recently after announcing her permanent settlement in Egypt, emphasizing that her love for the country is not new but part of her Arab upbringing since childhood.

In a lengthy post on her official Facebook page, Fawakherji directly responded to those who accused her of "flattery," saying: "To my Syrian brothers who attack me for my love of Egypt, I say, as in the famous song: 'The drum? No… it’s my heart.' Yes, it’s my heart, beating to the rhythm, because Egypt simply deserves love."

She added with her characteristic mix of humor and sentiment: "Thanks to destiny for letting me live in Egypt, and thanks to everyone who understands that love does not mean giving up identity, but rather expanding the heart to embrace all that is beautiful in our greater Arab homeland."

Earlier, the Syrian star had expressed her admiration for Egypt in a previous post, stating: "Peace is the creed of a nation and the will of its people, and whoever does not know Egypt does not know what life truly means."