According to a report by The Times Of Israel, Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa has cautioned that the Middle East risks plunging back into instability unless Israel agrees to a security arrangement with his transitional government that guarantees Syria’s sovereignty. His comments came during his first official trip to New York to attend the United Nations General Assembly, a visit viewed as a milestone in Syria’s re-engagement with global diplomacy.
Al-Sharaa, a former jihadist whose forces ousted longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad in December, addressed an audience at the Middle East Institute, where he sought to dispel the notion that Syria poses a threat to Israel. “We are not the ones creating problems for Israel. We are scared of Israel, not the other way around,” he said.
He warned, however, that Israel’s current approach to the negotiations, coupled with repeated violations of Syrian airspace and territorial incursions, could ignite fresh conflict. “There are multiple risks with Israel stalling on the negotiations and insisting on violating our airspace and incursions into our territory,” al-Sharaa explained, underscoring the urgency of progress at the diplomatic table.
The Syrian leader also rejected any discussions about dividing his country along sectarian or ethnic lines, criticizing Israel’s incursions framed as support for the Druze minority. He argued that such proposals would destabilize the entire region. “Jordan is under pressure, and any talk of partitioning Syria will hurt Iraq, will hurt Turkey,” he warned, adding that such steps could unravel fragile gains made since the end of Syria’s 15-year war.
By highlighting regional consequences, al-Sharaa sought to position Syria’s stability as essential not only for its own recovery but also for neighboring states. He stressed that a return to partition or prolonged foreign interference would undo hard-won progress and drag the Middle East “back to square one.”
While al-Sharaa has shown willingness to engage in talks with Israel on security arrangements, he dismissed the possibility of a broader peace deal involving official recognition of the Israeli state. His message at the UN reflects both Syria’s cautious stance and the broader challenges facing regional diplomacy. See, More, Here>>>>
