Syria’s new leader issued a warning on Tuesday, stating that the Middle East could face renewed turmoil if Israel does not secure a security agreement with his transitional government to protect sovereignty.
President Ahmed Al Sharaa, once a militant leader who ousted Bashar Al Assad in December, is making a significant visit to New York for the United Nations General Assembly.
Sharaa expressed hope once more for a security pact with Israel, which has launched extensive attacks, exploiting a period of vulnerability in its long-standing rival.
“We are not the ones causing issues for Israel; we are afraid of Israel, not the other way around,” he remarked at a Middle East Institute event.
“There are numerous risks if Israel delays negotiations and continues violating our airspace and entering our territory,” he stated.
He dismissed any discussions about partitioning Syria, responding to Israel’s incursions and its claims of supporting the Druze minority’s interests.
“Jordan is under pressure, and any partitioning of Syria would harm Iraq and Turkey,” he noted.
“That would bring us back to the starting point,” he added, highlighting that Syria has only just emerged from over a decade of conflict.
Earlier, Sharaa downplayed the likelihood of a more historic agreement where Syria would recognize Israel.
