BREAKING: Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa has just announced that his demand for Israeli troops to withdraw from southern Syria is backed by U.S. President Donald Trump. This unexpected revelation came during al-Sharaa’s visit to Washington, where he engaged in critical discussions with senior U.S. officials.
During an exclusive interview with the Washington Post, al-Sharaa stated there remains a “good distance to go” before Syria and Israel can finalize a potential security pact, which the U.S. hopes to mediate. He specifically highlighted the presence of Israeli forces in southern Syria as a significant barrier to peace negotiations.
In December 2022, following the collapse of the Assad regime, Israeli troops seized a section of territory west of the Golan Heights, establishing a “buffer zone” amidst the aftermath of the Syrian Civil War. With al-Sharaa’s recent shift towards the West, he has called for Israel to return to the “December 8 borders,” a move he claims is supported by Trump. Al-Sharaa accused Israel of harboring “expansionist ambitions” while emphasizing that his demand for withdrawal does not hinge on a complete Israeli pullback from the Golan Heights, which Syria regards as occupied territory.
Al-Sharaa dismissed Israeli calls for a demilitarized zone in southern Syria, questioning who would be held accountable if such a zone were exploited to attack Israel. He criticized Israel’s actions, stating, “Israel occupied the Golan Heights to protect itself, now they impose conditions in southern Syria to protect the Golan Heights. What’s next? Will they occupy central Syria to protect the south?”
This visit has ignited significant political controversy within Trump’s MAGA movement, particularly given al-Sharaa’s controversial past as a leader of the Al-Nusra Front, an Al Qaeda affiliate, which had a $10 million bounty on his head until recently. Under the alias Abu Mohammad al-Julani, he led the group before it merged with other Islamist factions to form Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS).
Since al-Sharaa’s emergence as a leader, the U.S. has lifted extensive sanctions on Syria, and both Washington and London have removed HTS from their lists of designated terrorist organizations. However, this shift has not been without backlash. Influential Trump ally Laura Loomer criticized the administration for engaging with al-Sharaa, suggesting he should have been apprehended upon arriving in the U.S. She expressed her frustration on social media, stating, “Who thought inviting a former terrorist to the White House was a good idea?”
Despite the controversial backdrop, on Tuesday, the U.S. confirmed that Syria has joined the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS, marking a pivotal moment in both Syria’s history and the global fight against terrorism. The U.S. special envoy for Syria, Tom Barrack, hailed this development as a significant step forward.
As the geopolitical landscape shifts, all eyes are on the implications of al-Sharaa’s alignment with the West and his calls for Israeli withdrawal. The urgency of these developments cannot be overstated, as they have the potential to reshape both regional dynamics and international relations.
Stay tuned for further updates on this evolving story, as the situation continues to develop. For more insights on Israel and its regional impacts, sign up for our free Israel Briefing newsletter.
