Syrian President’s Historic Visit to the U.S. Sparks Security Discussions
In a significant diplomatic development, Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa has outlined his stance on various international and regional issues following a landmark visit to the White House. This visit marks the first by a Syrian leader, signaling potential shifts in Middle Eastern geopolitics.
Although speculation surrounded a potential announcement of a new security arrangement between Syria and Israel, official statements remain pending as discussions continue. During an interview with The Washington Post, al-Sharaa was questioned about his strategy to “protect Syrian sovereignty” amid “repeated attacks by the Israeli military.”
Following the downfall of the Assad regime, Israel took substantial military action, dismantling Syria’s heavy military capabilities and later targeting sites linked to al-Sharaa’s regime, especially after assaults on the Druze community in southern Syria.
Al-Sharaa attributed the breach of the longstanding 1974 Disengagement Agreement to Israel, claiming violations over the past 50 years. He argued that Israel expanded its presence in Syria, expelled U.N. peacekeepers, and occupied new territories through over 1,000 airstrikes, including attacks on significant Syrian government sites.
Despite these actions, al-Sharaa emphasized Syria’s restraint, attributing Israel’s motivations to “expansionist ambitions” rather than security concerns. He further remarked that direct negotiations with Israel have progressed “a good distance” but stressed the necessity of Israel’s withdrawal to pre-December 8 borders for a final agreement.
“The United States is with us in these negotiations, and so many international parties support our perspective in this regard,” al-Sharaa noted, adding that former President Trump is supportive of Syria’s position and is eager for a resolution.
When approached about Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s proposal to demilitarize the region south of Damascus, al-Sharaa expressed reservations, citing concerns over security and sovereignty. He questioned, “Because if there is any kind of chaos, who will protect it? If this demilitarized zone was used by some parties as a launching pad for hitting Israel, who is going to be responsible for that?”
In a related development, Syria’s information minister announced that al-Sharaa has signed a cooperation agreement with the U.S.-led coalition against ISIS, aiming to achieve sanctions relief and bolster security efforts against the militant group.
Al-Sharaa, who formerly led the Syrian branch of Al Qaeda before diverging to form a moderate rebel coalition, has been a covert ally in the fight against ISIS since 2016. His personal sanctions were lifted shortly before his U.S. visit.
Reuters reported recent assassination attempts on al-Sharaa by ISIS, highlighting the persistent threats he faces. In response, Syrian security forces have detained over 70 suspected terrorists in a nationwide crackdown on ISIS cells.
This article was originally published by All Israel News.
This article was originally written by www.christianpost.com
