URGENT UPDATE: Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa has made a bold demand for an immediate withdrawal of Israeli troops from southern Syria, claiming support from U.S. President Donald Trump. This statement comes following al-Sharaa’s unprecedented visit to Washington, where he held critical meetings with Trump and high-ranking officials earlier this week.
In an exclusive interview with the Washington Post, al-Sharaa emphasized that there remains a “good distance to go” before Syria and Israel can potentially sign a security pact, with the presence of Israeli forces in southern Syria cited as a major obstacle. This call comes just months after the fall of the Assad regime in December, which allowed Israeli forces to establish a “buffer zone” in the region amid ongoing violence from the Syrian Civil War.
Al-Sharaa’s demands include a return to the December 8 borders, a term that references the territorial lines before the recent conflict escalated. He accused Israel of pursuing “expansionist ambitions” while asserting that this demand has the backing of the Trump administration. However, he notably did not condition any security agreement on Israel’s full withdrawal from the Golan Heights, a territory Syria considers occupied.
Al-Sharaa criticized the Israeli request for a demilitarized zone in southern Syria, questioning who would bear responsibility if such a zone were exploited to target Israel. He stated, “Israel occupied the Golan Heights in order to protect itself, yet now imposes conditions to safeguard its holdings.”
The political implications of al-Sharaa’s visit are profound, igniting controversy among Trump’s supporters, especially given al-Sharaa’s past as a leader of the Al-Nusra Front, an Al Qaeda affiliate. Under the alias Abu Mohammad al-Julani, al-Sharaa was previously on a U.S. wanted list, carrying a bounty of $10 million.
Despite his past, recent developments have seen the U.S. lift sanctions on Syria and both Washington and London have removed Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) from their lists of designated terrorist organizations. This shift has not been universally accepted among Trump’s voter base; influential far-right activist Laura Loomer condemned the meetings, arguing that al-Sharaa should have faced arrest upon entering the U.S.
Adding a layer of complexity, the U.S. confirmed on Tuesday that Syria has become the 90th nation to join its “Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS.” Tom Barrack, the U.S. special envoy for Syria, hailed this as “a pivotal moment in Syria’s history and in the global fight against terrorism.”
As the situation unfolds, the repercussions of al-Sharaa’s demands and his alignment with the West could reshape the landscape of Middle Eastern geopolitics. Observers will be watching closely for reactions from both Israel and the U.S. administration in the coming days.
For more updates on this developing story, continue to follow our coverage.
