Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa indicated Sunday that a security agreement with Israel may be under negotiation, suggesting such an arrangement could pave the way for broader normalization between the countries.
"If the security agreement succeeds, and Israel commits to the security side, and Syria does as well, along with all the conditions of the agreement that may be concluded later, this would qualify for a second stage of talks about a comprehensive peace, without conceding Syria's right to the occupied Golan [Heights]," Al-Sharaa said in an interview broadcast by Al Jazeera.
Israel took control of the western Golan Heights in the Six-Day War in 1967 and has since asserted sovereignty over the territory. Following the collapse of the former Syrian government in December 2024, Israeli forces occupied a strategic portion of the Syrian Golan Heights, citing the need to counter extremist groups operating in Syria.
The interview did not clarify whether a security arrangement would include an Israeli withdrawal from the Syrian Golan Heights.
Al-Sharaa also said he does not plan to deploy Syrian forces to Lebanon to support that country's government. Syria aims to preserve a non-aggression posture toward Israel, according to reporting from Al Jazeera.