Syrian president pushes for security pact with Israel
Damascus says any deal could pave the way to broader peace while preserving Syria's claim to the Golan Heights.
Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa said Damascus is seeking a security agreement with Israel, hoping the step will open the door to broader peace. In an interview with Al Jazeera, he said Syria is engaging several countries to press Israel for a more balanced stance while avoiding confrontation. Al-Sharaa stressed the effort does not mean Syria is giving up its rights to the Golan Heights, the territory seized by Israel in the 1967 war and annexed in 1981. The remarks came as Israeli forces remained active in Syrian territory after the fall of Bashar al-Assad in December 2024, and on the same day the U.N. again called for respect for Syria's sovereignty and territorial integrity.