In an exclusive Al Jazeera interview, President Ahmed al-Sharaa said Syria is pursuing a multinational security arrangement with Israel that could help open the way to broader regional peace, while stressing it would not affect Syria’s claim to the Golan Heights (captured by Israel in 1967). He denied plans for a military intervention in Lebanon, urged a comprehensive approach to its crisis, and warned of dangerous regional spillovers. Domestically, al-Sharaa said sanctions relief must include removal from terrorism sponsor lists and announced a special committee to investigate wartime disappearances (2011–2024).
Al-Sharaa: Syria Seeking Multinational Security Deal With Israel, Insisting Golan Claims Remain Intact
Al-Sharaa said that Syria has no intention of intervening in Lebanon [Screengrab/Al Jazeera]
Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa told Al Jazeera in an exclusive interview that Damascus is pursuing a multinational security arrangement with Israel that could, he hopes, serve as a gateway to a broader peace in the region.
Speaking on Al Jazeera’s Al Muqabala programme — the full interview was scheduled to air at 19:00 GMT — al-Sharaa said any agreement would not undermine Syria’s claim to the Golan Heights, territory Israel captured in 1967.
Avoiding direct confrontation: Al-Sharaa said Syria is taking steps to avoid direct clashes with Israel and suggested that a formal security arrangement, involving multiple countries, could pave the way for a wider resolution of the crisis.
Context and Recent Tensions
The president framed the initiative against a backdrop of repeated Israeli incursions and strikes in southern Syria since he assumed office in December 2024 following the collapse of Bashar al-Assad’s government, according to his remarks.
Lebanon and Regional Risks
Al-Sharaa categorically denied persistent rumours of a Syrian military intervention in Lebanon. Instead, he said Damascus is discussing ways to help Lebanese authorities stabilise the country and restore state authority.
He emphasised Syrian support for measures that would limit armed groups in Lebanon and ensure that decisions about war and peace rest with the legitimate Lebanese state. Al-Sharaa warned that a descent into chaos in Lebanon or a wider escalation involving the US, Israel and Iran would have immediate and severe consequences for Syria and the wider region.
Domestic Policy, Sanctions and Reconciliation
On the domestic and economic fronts, al-Sharaa argued that lifting sanctions alone would be insufficient unless Syria is also removed from lists designating it a state sponsor of terrorism. He said such delisting is a prerequisite for effective economic relief.
Addressing a domestic agreement with the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) — an alliance of Kurdish and Arab groups that controls parts of northern and eastern Syria — the president acknowledged delays in implementation but reiterated the government’s commitment and optimism about its eventual success.
Missing Persons Committee
Al-Sharaa announced that Syrian authorities have established a special committee to address the fate of people who went missing during the war from 2011 to 2024. He said the committee will operate according to international standards and will cooperate with countries that have specialised expertise in dealing with enforced disappearances and missing-person cases.
Al-Sharaa quoted international and domestic estimates on disappearances: the United Nations estimates around 100,000 forcibly disappeared, while Syria’s National Commission on Missing Persons has suggested numbers as high as 300,000.
The president’s comments outline a diplomatic and political approach aimed at reducing direct confrontation with Israel while pursuing multilateral arrangements and domestic reconciliation measures. Many of the proposals he described remain at the negotiation stage and will require cooperation from regional and international actors.
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