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The Day · Sunday 7 December 2025

Filed 22:46 · Palestine time (UTC+2) · World

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Damascus Demands Full Israeli Withdrawal from Syrian Soil Before Any Security Agreement

Damascus has made it clear that any potential security agreement hinges on a complete Israeli withdrawal from Syrian soil. The condition underscores Syria’s firm stance on sovereignty and territorial integrity as the foundation for regional security arrangements.

DAMASCUS, SYRIA – SEPTEMBER 16: Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani (C), Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi (not seen), US Special Envoy for Syria, Tom Barrack (not seen) hold a joint press conference after their meeting at the Tishreen Palace in Damascus, Syria on September 16, 2025. They held a trilateral meeting to discuss the situation in the southern Suwayda province. ( Izz Aldien Alqasem – Anadolu Agency )

Damascus has stated that it will not consider entering into any security agreement unless there is a full Israeli withdrawal from Syrian soil. The condition reflects a fixed stance held by Damascus, which centers on the restoration of sovereignty and national territory as a precondition for any form of negotiation or cooperation.

The demand was made unequivocally, with Damascus insisting that no progress can be achieved on the security front while Israeli forces remain present on Syrian land. Officials reiterated that the country’s core position remains unchanged, emphasizing that any dialogue must begin with the immediate and total removal of all Israeli military and administrative presence from Syrian territory.

From its side, Damascus considers the Israeli presence on Syrian soil a violation of international norms and national rights. The insistence on full withdrawal is seen as a prerequisite, not a negotiable item. It is the basis upon which any future pathway toward security coordination or dialogue must be built, according to the official stance articulated in the announcement.

This position was voiced as part of a broader call for the restoration of all occupied lands to their legitimate nation-states. Damascus emphasized that the current state of occupation directly undermines regional stability and security, and any attempts to finalize a security agreement without addressing this core issue would be futile.

Meanwhile, the demand for complete withdrawal is being underlined as a test of Israel’s willingness to engage in genuine and lasting regional engagement based on mutual respect and recognition of sovereignty. Damascus warns that without adherence to this condition, no agreement will be possible and the status quo will persist.

Syria’s position, as pronounced by Damascus, serves as a direct message to all involved parties that normalization or de-escalation efforts must begin with the dismantling of occupation structures. Any alternative courses of dialogue are seen as attempts to bypass the fundamental issue, which remains non-negotiable from the Syrian perspective.

In addition, Damascus maintained that its condition for Israeli withdrawal is aligned with broader regional principles and historical claims to territorial integrity. The insistence on total Israeli withdrawal is not merely diplomatic rhetoric but a strategic baseline demanded for any progress in security coordination.

This declaration by Damascus reaffirms its alignment with voices in the region that call for justice, sovereignty, and the end to all forms of occupation before moving toward any form of agreement that claims to ensure security or stability. Damascus has thus drawn a firm line: without full Israeli withdrawal from Syrian soil, no security agreement will be entertained or signed.

7 Dec, 22:46

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