New york: Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa warned in New York on Tuesday of the risk of new unrest in the region if his country and Israel do not reach a security agreement, while US envoy Tom Barak confirmed that Damascus and Tel Aviv are close to concluding an agreement.
According to National Iraqi News Agency, Sharaa expressed his concerns during a dialogue session organized by the American think tank "Middle East Institute." He emphasized that Syria is not responsible for the ongoing problems with Israel, highlighting the dangers posed by Israel's delays in negotiations and its violations of Syrian airspace and territory. Sharaa firmly rejected any discussion about dividing Syria, asserting that such actions would negatively impact neighboring countries like Iraq and Turkey, and would reverse the progress Syria has made after emerging from 15 years of war.
On Monday, Sharaa dismissed the possibility of Syria joining peace agreements with Israel at this time. Meanwhile, US special envoy for Syria, Tom Barak, confirmed that Syria and Israel are nearing a "de-escalation" agreement. This agreement would see Israel cease its attacks while Syria refrains from moving heavy machinery near the Israeli border. Barak noted that this would be a preliminary step toward a broader security agreement currently under negotiation.
Barak also mentioned that US President Donald Trump had aimed for an agreement announcement this week, but progress has been hindered, partly due to the Jewish New Year holiday. Earlier this month, a Syrian government source told Al Jazeera that any security agreement would require Israel to withdraw from territories occupied after the fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime in December 2024. The source emphasized that any new agreement must guarantee Syria's sovereignty and territorial integrity while addressing Israeli threats.
Since the downfall of Assad's regime, Israeli forces have occupied more Syrian territory and conducted numerous airstrikes across Syria. Damascus has condemned these actions, particularly in Quneitra, Daraa, and the Damascus countryside, arguing that they violate international law and the 1974 Disengagement Agreement and hinder stability efforts.