Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa has publicly confirmed that Damascus is in the process of negotiating a security arrangement with Israel, an effort he says involves the participation of several other nations and could ultimately lead to a wider peace — without surrendering Syria’s claim to the occupied Golan Heights.
Speaking in an interview with Qatar’s Al Jazeera, al-Sharaa explained that Syria is deliberately steering clear of conflict with Israel. “We are avoiding confrontation with Israel because it is not in our interest,” he said. “We are working to reach a security agreement with Israel with the participation of a number of countries. If this security agreement succeeds, it could pave the way for comprehensive peace without compromising Syria’s legitimate right to the occupied Golan.”
Al-Sharaa expressed concern that tensions in the broader region could spiral further, and said his government is focused on finding solutions that reduce the risk of escalation and support stability across the Middle East.
His comments come at a time when regional and international diplomatic activity surrounding Syria’s future remains active. Israel has continued to conduct airstrikes inside Syrian territory, while behind-the-scenes mediation efforts are reportedly underway to ease tensions between the two countries.
On the topic of Lebanon, al-Sharaa was clear that Syria has no plans to intervene militarily in its neighboring country. He said Damascus is working alongside the Lebanese government to help address that country’s ongoing crises, and warned that instability in Lebanon would have direct consequences for Syria. He also voiced support for the Lebanese state holding sole authority over weapons and decisions related to war and peace.
Turning to internal matters, al-Sharaa acknowledged that progress on an agreement with the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces has been slower than expected, but he maintained that his government remains dedicated to seeing it through. He also announced the creation of a committee to address the issue of missing persons, to be conducted in line with international standards and with the assistance of countries that have experience in this area.
On Syria’s economic challenges, al-Sharaa argued that lifting sanctions alone would not be enough to get the country’s economy back on track. He said Syria also needs to be removed from the United States’ list of state sponsors of terrorism for any meaningful recovery to take place.
In a related development, the United States has begun the formal process of removing Syria from that list. President Donald Trump notified Congress of his intention on July 8, 2026, which triggered a required 45-day review period before the change can officially take effect.
Al-Sharaa also briefly noted that ties between Syria and Iraq are continuing to improve, though he offered no additional specifics.
Analysts note that al-Sharaa’s statements represent some of the most direct public remarks by a Syrian leader regarding the possibility of a security arrangement with Israel, and that he has tied the outcome of any such deal to the broader question of peace and Syria’s longstanding position on the Golan Heights.
