Syria’s foreign minister, Asaad al-Shaibani, has called on Israel to halt actions that threaten his country’s stability and to work toward a “calm and comprehensive” security agreement. In an exclusive interview with Euronews, al-Shaibani stressed that Damascus seeks a formal security pact with Israel, but insisted that normalisation of diplomatic relations must not be pursued under military pressure.
The interview coincided with a high-level political meeting in Brussels between Syrian and European Union officials, part of a broader effort to rebuild ties after years of conflict. In January, the two countries resumed US-mediated talks aimed at easing tensions along their border and restoring a United Nations-patrolled buffer zone.
“We want to have a security agreement with Israel,” al-Shaibani told Euronews’ morning show Europe Today. “We hope that these negotiations will lead to a calm and comprehensive agreement that respects Syria’s sovereignty.” He added that Damascus views normalisation and a peace framework as separate processes, and that “we do not want normalisation to take place under the use of military force or provocation.”
Return to the 1974 Accord
Since Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa led an insurgent offensive that ousted Bashar al-Assad in 2024, Israeli officials have effectively set aside the 1974 agreement that established a buffer zone between the two countries’ forces. Israeli forces have since taken control of areas in southern Syria and carried out strikes inside the country, citing self-defence.
“Israel has not calmed down, threatening stability in Syria, destabilising and targeting military and civilian infrastructure under false and unreliable arguments,” al-Shaibani said. He called for a return to the 1974 agreement and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from territories occupied after December 8, 2024.
The minister’s comments come as Syria seeks to rebuild a country devastated by more than a decade of civil war. He warned that the conflict in Iran poses a threat to Syria’s “fragile” economy, and called on the international community—including the European Union—to assist reconstruction efforts. The EU, alongside the Trump administration, has lifted economic sanctions to ease pressure on the Syrian economy.
In a related development, the EU has restored its cooperation agreement with Syria, a move that al-Shaibani discussed in a separate exclusive interview. The bloc’s engagement is seen as crucial for stabilising the region and preventing further chaos, as Syria has warned that forced returns without EU support would trigger chaos.
Analysts note that any security agreement between Syria and Israel would require delicate diplomacy, given the long history of hostility and the current fragmentation of Syrian territory. The EU’s role as a mediator and donor could prove pivotal, but member states remain divided over how closely to engage with the new Damascus government.
Al-Shaibani’s remarks underscore the urgency of a comprehensive approach. “We do not want normalisation to take place under the use of military force or provocation,” he reiterated, signalling that Syria will not accept a deal imposed by Israeli military gains.
