Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa has indicated that his country is pursuing a security agreement with Israel, stating that such a accord could facilitate comprehensive peace without compromising Syria's claim to the Golan Heights.
In an interview with Al Jazeera, President Al-Sharaa explained that Syria is actively engaging a broad coalition of nations to encourage Israel to adopt a more balanced policy. He emphasized Syria's commitment to avoiding confrontations.
The Syrian President's remarks come in the context of recent Israeli military movements into Syria. Following shifts in Syrian leadership in December 2024, Israeli forces advanced into strategic territories, including a demilitarized zone and the Syrian side of Mount Hermon. These incursions have been accompanied by Israeli strikes and detentions within Syria, as well as interventions described by Israel as protecting Druze communities.
On the day of the interview, Syrian state news agency SANA reported that Israeli forces shelled areas in Syria, causing damage to an electrical transformer in the village of Maariyah and disrupting power. This activity coincided with a visit by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, the first by a UN chief to Syria since 2009. Guterres subsequently issued a statement on X, calling for respect for Syria's sovereignty and condemning Israeli violations of the 1974 Disengagement of Forces Agreement.
President Al-Sharaa, who has been working to improve Syria's international standing, also commented on his government's stance regarding Lebanon. He stated that his administration is not considering military interventions in Lebanon, despite historical complexities involving groups like Hezbollah, which fought on opposing sides during the Syrian civil war. Earlier in the year, US President Donald Trump had reportedly discussed combating Hezbollah with Al-Sharaa.
