As Israeli forces continue to control swathes of Syrian territory and target infrastructure, Syrian Head of Government Ahmed al-Sharaa (formerly Abu Mohammad al-Julani) announced efforts to conclude a “security agreement” with Israel. Al-Sharaa’s recent remarks to Al Jazeera reflect a political shift aimed at securing international legitimacy for his government, even if it requires ignoring direct Israeli violations of Syrian sovereignty.
Contradiction Between Statements and Realities on the Ground
Al-Sharaa stated that his government’s efforts to sign a security agreement pave the way for “comprehensive peace,” asserting that Damascus will not compromise its rights to the Golan Heights, occupied since 1967. However, this proposition completely contradicts statements made by US President Donald Trump, who explicitly stated that al-Sharaa “gave Israel the Golan.” This also aligns with the realities on the ground that followed his forces’ arrival in Damascus and the fall of the Assad regime in December 2024. Exploiting the security vacuum, Israel launched a ground incursion into the demilitarized zone, seizing strategic locations including the Syrian side of Mount Hermon. Faced with this expansion, al-Sharaa justified his government’s stance by stating, “We are avoiding getting into confrontations.”
Ignoring Internal Crises and Focusing on Foreign Relations
While the current government in Damascus focuses on building an international network and mobilizing foreign parties to pressure Israel into adopting a “more balanced policy,” Syrian civilians bear the direct consequences of this approach. Israeli military strikes continue, most recently the shelling of the village of Maariyah and the destruction of an electrical transformer, plunging civilian homes into darkness without any action from Damascus. Al-Sharaa’s priorities lean toward altering the international perception of his military past. This was evident when he became the first Syrian president in decades to attend the UN General Assembly.
While US President Donald Trump stated that he had discussed eliminating the Lebanese Hezbollah with al-Sharaa, this approach was met with clear Israeli rejection and skepticism. Responding to Trump’s suggestion that Syria intervene against the group, Israel explicitly stated that it “does not want a terrorist in a tie,” clearly referencing its distrust of al-Sharaa and his past.
Overlooking Violations for Political Gains
Al-Sharaa’s remarks coincided with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres’s visit to Damascus. While Guterres clearly condemned Israeli violations of the 1974 Disengagement of Forces Agreement, calling them “unacceptable,” al-Sharaa’s government leans toward ignoring these violations to reach a new political agreement that guarantees its continued hold on power. The recent political maneuvers by Ahmed al-Sharaa’s government indicate the absence of a clear strategy to protect Syrian territory, relying instead on a pragmatic approach that offers political and security concessions in exchange for international recognition. What is currently being promoted under the guise of “avoiding confrontation” and “comprehensive peace” translates in practice to capitulation to the status quo imposed by Israeli military movements in southern Syria.