Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa stated in an interview with Al Jazeera that his country is working on a security agreement with Israel. According to him, this agreement could pave the way for a comprehensive peace between the two neighboring states in the future.
The president noted that several countries are involved in the talks between Damascus and Jerusalem. The main goal of the discussions is to reach an agreement that will ensure the withdrawal of the Israeli army from the buffer zone it seized following the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad in 2024.
The two countries, which have no official diplomatic relations and remain in a state of war, have so far held several rounds of talks with US support. In January, the parties agreed to establish an intelligence-sharing mechanism and to promote diplomacy and trade opportunities. Currently, broad security talks are ongoing, aimed at restoring the 1974 agreement that defined the UN-monitored buffer zone.
Al-Sharaa added that Syria hopes such an agreement will lead to comprehensive peace talks without abandoning its claims to the Golan Heights, captured by Israel in 1967. He also emphasized that Damascus is not interested in a confrontation with Israel and is actively trying to avoid it.
Calls for intervention in Lebanon rejected
Commenting on US President Donald Trump's remarks that Syria could militarily intervene against the Hezbollah group in Lebanon, al-Sharaa stated that his country has no such intention. He noted that instead of military operations, Damascus will explore ways to support the Lebanese government in its efforts to disarm Hezbollah.
Donald Trump has repeatedly called on Syria to militarily intervene in Lebanon. However, Ahmed al-Sharaa, who has focused on rebuilding Syria since coming to power in late 2024, consistently rejects the idea of a war with Hezbollah. The president warned that the outbreak of any conflict in Lebanon would inevitably affect Syria, and the expansion of the war could trigger a major regional crisis.
Source: timesofisrael.com
