Syrian President Expresses Readiness to Cooperate with Israel

President of Syria Ahmad al-Sharaa has revealed that Damascus is actively working to reach a security agreement with Israel, involving several countries. In an exclusive interview for Al Jazeera’s Al Muqabala programme, al-Sharaa expressed hope that such an agreement could serve as a gateway to comprehensive peace.

The statement follows a series of attacks and territorial incursions by Israel in southern Syria since al-Sharaa came to power in December 2024, after the collapse of Bashar al-Assad’s government. Israel has continued almost daily violations beyond the border zone in Quneitra province and the southern part of Deraa province, raising significant concerns in Damascus.

“If a security agreement is reached and Israel commits to the security aspects—as does Syria, including adhering to all provisions of any agreement that may be reached—then this will pave the way for a second stage of negotiations on comprehensive peace, without sacrificing Syria’s right to the occupied Golan Heights,” the Syrian President said.

Israel currently occupies what it calls a temporary security zone beyond the Bravo Line—on the Syrian side of the buffer zone—and there are no signs yet of an imminent withdrawal. Nevertheless, the Syrian government has expressed its willingness to engage in further negotiations that could potentially lead to lasting peace between Syria and Israel.

Al-Sharaa also stressed that Syria has no intention of launching a military intervention in neighbouring Lebanon, despite recurring rumours to that effect. Instead, his administration is currently discussing ways for the Lebanese authorities to address the crisis facing the country and steer it towards a secure situation.

Southern Lebanon is currently occupied by Israel amid months-long fighting between Hezbollah and Israeli forces. The Lebanese state is seeking to reclaim these occupied territories and to hold a full monopoly on all weaponry within the country. Al-Sharaa further expressed Damascus’s firm support for restricting arms ownership and placing the authority over decisions of war and peace exclusively in the hands of the Lebanese state.