Ahmed al-Sharaa, the interim president of Syria, urged global leaders to pressure Israel for an immediate pullout from southern Syria during his first Arab summit attendance. Israeli military actions, including air strikes and ground incursions, are a contentious point, impacting Syrian sovereignty and regional security. Sharaa’s leadership follows the ousting of Assad and Syria’s recent re-entry into the Arab League.
Syria’s interim President, Ahmed al-Sharaa, called on the international community to exert pressure on Israel for an immediate withdrawal of its forces from southern Syria. His comments were made during his inaugural attendance at an Arab summit since assuming office following the ouster of Bashar al-Assad on December 8, an offensive led by Sharaa’s group, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham.
Since 1974, Israeli troops have occupied a UN-patrolled buffer zone separating Israeli forces from Syrian forces in the strategic Golan Heights, a region Israel has occupied since 1967 and subsequently annexed, a move not recognized by the United Nations. Recently, Israel has increased military operations, including ground incursions and air strikes against Syrian targets.
During the Arab leaders summit in Cairo, Sharaa emphasized, “We urge the international community to uphold its legal and moral commitments by supporting Syria’s rights and pressuring Israel to immediately withdraw from southern Syria.” He asserted that Israel’s “hostile expansion is not only a violation of Syrian sovereignty but also a direct threat to security and peace in the entire region.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu previously stated that Israel demands complete demilitarization of southern Syria, asserting that his country would not accept the presence of new Syrian authorities in that area. Sharaa’s attendance at the summit marks his engagement with regional leaders since the change in Syrian power.
While in Cairo, Sharaa met with significant figures, including United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, and discussed the potential for a new direction for Syria and the challenges it faces. The UN envoy to Syria, Geir Pedersen, condemned Israel’s military escalations, including air strikes on Syria.
Syria was suspended from the Arab League due to President Assad’s violent crackdown on protests beginning in 2011, leading to a devastating civil conflict. In 2023, Syria, under Assad, was welcomed back into the Arab League — a return facilitated primarily by Saudi Arabia’s influence and interest in combating the spread of captagon, a drug linked to the former president.
A UN Security Council committee granted a travel ban exemption for Sharaa, allowing him to attend the summit, in spite of his inclusion on a sanctions list. The gathering was also prompted by criticism of President Trump’s proposal concerning Gaza, which Sharaa denounced as a grave injustice against Palestinians.
In summary, Syria’s interim President, Ahmed al-Sharaa, called for international intervention to compel Israel to withdraw from southern Syria. His remarks at the Arab summit underscore ongoing tensions in the region, particularly regarding Israeli military actions and the broader implications for regional stability. The discussions also reflect Syria’s recent reintegration into Arab diplomacy after years of isolation.
Original Source: www.hindustantimes.com
