Al-Sharaa: We will not intervene militarily in Lebanon... and any chaos there will directly reflect on Syria
Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa stated 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 compromising Syria’s rights in the occupied Golan. He also affirmed that Damascus does not intend to carry out any military intervention in Lebanon.
In an interview with Al Jazeera, he 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.”
On the other hand, the Syrian president reiterated that Damascus has no intention of intervening militarily in Lebanon, pointing out that it is “exploring 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 concerns over the widening scope of war in the region and its potential regional repercussions.
On other matters, the Syrian president said that lifting economic sanctions on his country “would not be fully effective unless Syria is removed from the list of state sponsors of terrorism.”
He also pointed to a delay in implementing the agreement reached with the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), but affirmed that the government still bets on its success.
He confirmed that authorities have formed a special committee to manage the case of the missing, in accordance with international standards and in cooperation with countries possessing specialized expertise in this field.
Militarily, Israeli forces carried out an incursion into southern Syria, according to official Syrian media, following a call by UN Secretary-General António Guterres to halt “violations” and respect Syria’s sovereignty.
The report added that the incursion was carried out by “a force consisting of three military vehicles and a bulldozer,” which established “a military barrier inside the village of Al-Arida” and distributed paper leaflets in towns in the area, warning residents against closing roads or obstructing the movement of their vehicles.
SANA also reported Israeli artillery shelling of agricultural lands in the vicinity of the village of Tarinaja in the Quneitra countryside.
