Syria’s de facto leader, Ahmed Al-Sharaa, declared on Thursday that Israel no longer had any justification to maintain its hold over the buffer zone between the two countries, following Damascus’s decision to expel Iranian forces from the region. Speaking at a joint press conference in Damascus alongside Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani, Al-Sharaa emphasized his willingness to allow United Nations peacekeepers to oversee the area under the terms of the 1974 Israel-Syria disengagement agreement.
“The removal of any Iranian presence from the region eliminates Israel’s pretext for occupying the buffer zone,” Al-Sharaa stated. “We are prepared to cooperate fully with international mechanisms, including the UN peacekeeping forces, to ensure the security and stability of this area.”
The buffer zone, a demilitarized area established nearly five decades ago, has been a focal point of tension between the two nations. In the turmoil and instability that followed the overthrow of the Bashar al-Assad administration, Israel has maintained that its presence in the region is a temporary measure required to keep the territory out of enemy hands. Al-Sharaa’s comments, however, indicate a strong opposition to the ongoing Israeli occupation, characterizing it as both needless and a breach of international accords.
Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani, the prime minister of Qatar, denounced Israel’s actions as well, calling the buffer zone’s capture a violation of Syria’s sovereignty. “The region’s peace and security are threatened by the occupation. We implore Israel to abide by international law and leave right away,” he stated during the news conference.
Despite the strong rhetoric against Israel, Al-Sharaa’s Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) group, which governs the new Syrian government, has remained silent regarding an Israeli airstrike on Wednesday that targeted a weapons convoy in southern Syria. The strike reportedly killed several individuals, including military officials affiliated with the new regime. Though the incident has elicited concern up to this writing, both Al-Sharaa and HTS have not made any official statement regarding the attack.
Analysts pointed out that comment made by Al-Sharaa on Thursday shows better tone than earlier because now he is trying to present that his government is following international law and wants to bring stability in the region. When he allows the existence of the UN peacekeepers, he is seems to be seeking international recognition during the period when the new Syria leadership is in the process of being ostracized internationally.
The condition of the populated place still remains worrisome in the buffer zone. What has muddied this narrative, according to Israel, is Damascuss expulsion of Iranian forces—a key demand from Israel and many of its allies. Al-Sharaa’s government is now pressing for Israel to honor its obligations under the disengagement agreement, which stipulates the demilitarization of the area and the deployment of UN peacekeeping forces to monitor the border.
For residents of the region, uncertainty looms large. Communities on both sides of the border have been living through a cycle of violence and displacement over and over. Although the opportunity to reestablish new international presence under UN mandate might provide a minimal optimistic expectation for renewed stability, the road ahead is uncertain, especially in view of the deep mistrust that has always existed between the two countries.
However, when tensions rise, the international community will arguably assume a key mediation function. The question of whether or not Israel will comply with requests to withdraw and will allow UN peaceniks to perform their role in the buffer zone is still open. For the moment, however, Al-Sharaa’s government shows a clear intention to pursue a solution, which it presented as a test for international law and a commitment of Israel.
