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Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa signaled on Sunday that Damascus and Jerusalem may be edging closer to a new security agreement, a move that could reshape regional dynamics after decades of hostility.
Speaking to a delegation of Arab media representatives in Damascus, al-Sharaa emphasized that talks had advanced significantly and that the chances of reaching such an accord were now “greater than not.”
His comments, reported by Syria’s state-run news agency SANA and relayed by Sky News Arabia’s Lebanese CEO Nadim Qatish, mark one of the strongest hints yet of a potential breakthrough between Syria and Israel.
According to Qatish, the Syrian president said the prospective agreement would be based on the framework of the 1974 Disengagement of Forces Agreement, which followed the Yom Kippur War and established buffer zones along the Golan Heights.
Al-Sharaa argued that such an arrangement would protect Syria’s sovereignty while opening the door to confidence-building measures that might, in time, create the conditions for a broader peace settlement.
Nonetheless, he stressed that the current regional and domestic environment was not yet suitable for a full peace agreement. “If I see that peace serves Syria and the region, I would not hesitate to reach it publicly,” al-Sharaa reportedly told the delegation.
The president also touched on Syria’s strained ties with Lebanon, vowing to turn a new page and establish a state-to-state relationship free from internal Lebanese disputes. He expressed hope that Lebanon could benefit from Syria’s expected economic recovery and made clear he would resist pressure to intervene in Lebanon’s political struggles.
Al-Sharaa further addressed the ongoing unrest in Sweida province, where minority Druze communities have resisted Damascus’s authority.
He underscored two principles guiding his approach: the preservation of Syrian unity and the rejection of weapons outside state control. These principles, he said, would also shape any eventual settlements with Kurds, Druze, or Alawite groups.
On the question of relations with the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), al-Sharaa pointed to the March 10 agreement signed with SDF commander Mazloum Abdi as a basis for reconciliation.
He acknowledged the strategic importance of northeastern Syria, rich in oil and agricultural resources, and insisted it should not become a battleground between the state and Kurdish factions. Instead, he reiterated that the Kurds remain an integral part of the Syrian state.
The timing of al-Sharaa’s remarks comes amid heightened regional military activity, with the Israel Defense Forces recently conducting operations in southern Syria.
Analysts suggest the Syrian leader may be signaling to both domestic and international audiences that Damascus is open to pragmatic solutions while safeguarding national sovereignty.
Whether the discussions materialize into a lasting security framework remains uncertain. Yet, al-Sharaa’s words indicate a rare moment of cautious optimism in a region where peace has long remained elusive.
This article was created using automation technology and was thoroughly edited and fact-checked by one of our editorial staff members