Al-Sharaa: We are working to reach a security agreement with Israel and hope it will serve as a pathway to comprehensive peace
Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa said that Damascus is working to reach a security agreement with Israel, involving several countries, expressing hope that this agreement would serve as a gateway to comprehensive peace, without undermining Syria’s rights in the occupied Golan. He considered that lifting economic sanctions would be ineffective unless Syria is removed from the list of state sponsors of terrorism.
During an interview on Al Jazeera’s “The Interview” program, al-Sharaa added that his country avoids confrontation with Israel and sees no interest in engaging in any clash with it, noting that the success of ongoing security arrangements could pave the way for a broader settlement. He expressed concern over the “expansion of the war in the region.”
On the Lebanese issue, the Syrian president affirmed that Damascus does not intend to intervene militarily in Lebanon, pointing out that his country is discussing with the Lebanese government ways to help overcome the crisis and steer Lebanon to safety. He stressed that addressing the Lebanese crisis is not limited to a security approach, but requires a comprehensive solution that addresses all its dimensions, warning that any chaos in Lebanon would directly impact Syria.
Al-Sharaa also announced Damascus’s support for restricting weapons and placing the decision on peace and war in the hands of the Lebanese state, expressing his concerns about the expansion of the war in the region and its potential regional repercussions.
The Syrian president affirmed that relations with Iraq are witnessing continuous improvement, while “we have not yet finished discussions with Russia regarding the future of its military bases in Syria.”
On domestic files, al-Sharaa confirmed that “investigations are ongoing into the Deir ez-Zor collision incident, and possibilities include it being an accidental event,” adding, “There is a delay in implementing the agreement with the SDF, but we still rely on it.”
He said, “We have formed a committee to manage the file of the missing, in accordance with international standards and in cooperation with experienced countries.”
