Key facts
- Syria is seeking a security agreement with Israel with the participation of several countries.
- Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa expressed hope that such a deal could lead to comprehensive peace.
- Al-Sharaa stated the agreement would not compromise Syria's right to the Golan Heights.
- He denied Syria's intention to intervene militarily in Lebanon.
- Al-Sharaa accused Israel of stoking regional tensions and conducting frequent air strikes in Syria.
Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa has revealed that Damascus is actively seeking to establish a security agreement with Israel, with the participation of several other countries. In an interview with Al Jazeera, al-Sharaa expressed hope that such a deal could serve as a gateway to comprehensive peace, while emphasizing that it would not compromise Syria's right to the Golan Heights, which Israel has occupied since 1973.
Al-Sharaa stated that Syria is actively avoiding clashes with Israel and that a security arrangement could pave the way for a broader resolution to the ongoing crisis. This comes amid repeated Israeli incursions and strikes in southern Syria since al-Sharaa assumed power in December 2024, following the collapse of Bashar al-Assad’s government.
Regarding regional issues, al-Sharaa confirmed Syria has no intention of launching military intervention into neighboring Lebanon, despite rumors. He stated his government is discussing ways for Lebanese authorities to overcome their current crisis and expressed support for restricting weapons and containing decisions of war and peace exclusively to the Lebanese state. He warned that chaos in Lebanon would have repercussions for Syria and that an expansion of the US-Israel war on Iran could lead to severe regional fallout.
On domestic matters, al-Sharaa argued that lifting economic sanctions on Syria would be ineffective without also removing it from the list of state sponsors of terrorism. He acknowledged delays in implementing an internal agreement with the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) but affirmed commitment to its success. Additionally, he announced the establishment of a special committee to manage the issue of missing persons from Syria’s war, operating under international standards.
In a separate interview, al-Sharaa accused Israel of stoking regional tensions to divert attention from actions in Gaza, stating that Israel often "exports crises to other countries." He asserted that Syria has sent positive messages regarding regional peace and stability since he took office, but Israel has responded with "extreme violence." Al-Sharaa called for Israel to withdraw to pre-1974 positions and preserve the Disengagement Accord, questioning who would protect any new buffer zone if Syrian forces were not present. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had previously stated that a deal with Syria was within reach but demanded a demilitarized buffer zone.