Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa announced on Sunday to Al Jazeera that his administration is actively seeking a security agreement with Israel, involving several international intermediaries.
The President expressed his hope that such an arrangement could serve as a gateway to a comprehensive peace, reports Al Jazeera.
He maintained, however, that any deal would not sacrifice Syria’s sovereign rights to the Golan Heights, which have remained under illegal Israeli occupation since 1973.
Strategic restraint and regional security
The Syrian government is currently focused on avoiding military confrontations with Israel. Al-Sharaa suggested that establishing a security framework could facilitate a broader and more comprehensive resolution to the crisis.
This diplomatic push follows a period of frequent Israeli military strikes in southern Syria, which persisted after the Sharaa administration assumed power in December 2024 following the fall of the previous government.
Regarding the ongoing instability in Lebanon, the President dismissed rumours of Syrian military involvement, asserting that Damascus has no intention of launching an intervention.
Instead, his government is engaged in discussions with Lebanese authorities to help the country steer it towards safety.
Al-Sharaa voiced his firm support for the Lebanese state’s efforts to monopolise all weapons and maintain exclusive authority over national decisions regarding war and peace.
He warned that a descent into chaos in Lebanon would have immediate repercussions on Syria, and cautioned that an escalation of the US-Israel conflict with Iran would lead to a severe regional fall-out.
Economic recovery and domestic reconciliation
Addressing the nation’s economic struggles, Al-Sharaa argued that simply lifting international sanctions would be ineffective unless the international community also removes Syria from the list of state sponsors of terrorism.
On the domestic front, the President acknowledged a delay in executing the internal agreement with the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which governs sectors of northern and eastern Syria.
Nevertheless, he confirmed that the government remains fully committed to the agreement and expects its eventual success.
Furthermore, the Syrian authorities have formed a specialised committee to resolve the cases of those who went missing during the conflict between 2011 and 2024.
While United Nations estimates suggest 100,000 people were forcibly disappeared, Syria’s National Commission on Missing Persons indicates the figure could reach 300,000.
Al-Sharaa stated that the new committee would operate strictly according to international standards in collaboration with global experts.
