After a meeting with President Donald Trump at the White House on Monday, Syria’s interim president, Ahmed al-Shallah, revealed that Trump supports Israel’s request for the withdrawal of Israeli troops from Syrian territory.
In a discussion, Sharaa raised pointed questions regarding Israel’s “occupation of Syrian land” and its role in “promoting sectarianism,” particularly within the Druze community. He also inquired about strategies to “defend Syria’s sovereignty” against Israel.
In response, Shallah accused Israel of having “expansionist ambitions,” suggesting they use concerns about Syria’s Druze minority as an excuse to claim more Syrian land, although he didn’t seem as distressed by the situation as others might. “Israel has consistently claimed it worries about Syria due to the threat from Iranian militias and Hezbollah. But we were the ones who drove those forces out,” he asserted.
While the situation regarding Hezbollah in Syria remains uncertain, Israeli military spokesperson Nadav Shoshani noted that Hezbollah announced efforts to smuggle weapons from Syria into Lebanon, which violates a ceasefire meant to disarm Hezbollah fighters in southern Lebanon.
“We are successfully preventing that and cutting off the land route from Syria to Lebanon, but it’s still a threat,” Shoshani stated.
He further emphasized, “We will stick to the agreement, but it must be honored. We can’t return to the reality of October 7, when there were threats from thousands of terrorists just on the other side of our border.” He added that although Hezbollah might have faced difficulties in Syria after Assad’s downfall, it continues to take advantage of the country’s instability to rearm and expand its reach, according to analyst Ahmad Sharawi.
Sharawi highlighted the importance of the security agreement between Syria and Israel, noting both nations face shared threats from Iran and Hezbollah.
Sharaa acknowledged this mutual interest in an interview, stating, “We are in direct negotiations with Israel and have made significant progress. However, for a final agreement, Israel must withdraw to its borders as they were before December 8.” He urged Israel to reverse the military buildup initiated after the coalition of rebels and jihadists overthrew Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad last year.
“The United States is supporting us in these negotiations, along with many international parties. Today, we learned that Mr. Trump stands with us. We aim to resolve this issue swiftly,” Sharaa mentioned.
He criticized Israel for using its occupation of Syrian territory to bolster its own security, suggesting, perhaps a bit dramatically, that this could lead to further territorial claims. “Israel occupied the Golan Heights to protect itself—it seems they may soon demand control of central Syria under the guise of protecting southern Syria. At this rate, they’ll reach Munich,” he remarked.
Sharaa, a former member of the al-Qaeda group and founder of what was initially Jabhat al-Nusra, has a complex background rooted in this conflict. After his father was forced from the Golan Heights due to Israeli control following the 1967 war, Sharaa moved to Saudi Arabia.
Recently, Sharaa expressed disdain for both Hezbollah and Israel’s presence in the Golan Heights, noting that Iranian support for Hezbollah has only exacerbated Syria’s civil war. He believes that addressing Hezbollah’s actions could enhance chances for sanctions relief and post-war reconstruction efforts from the U.S. and its allies.
It seems the pieces are in place for a security agreement between Syria and Israel, provided that Israeli leadership can confidently trust Sharaa’s commitments. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu understands the strategic importance that President Trump sees in diplomatically bringing Syria closer to the West, yet Netanyahu’s concerns about Sharaa may pose a significant hurdle for reconciliation.
Israel remains apprehensive regarding its past associations with Shara and has voiced criticism over treatment of ethnic minorities like the Druze. Additionally, Israel has conducted numerous airstrikes within Syrian territory, citing the need to prevent hostile groups from acquiring weapons.
