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The Day · Sunday 7 December 2025

Filed 23:01 · Palestine time (UTC+2) · World

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Damascus Ties Security Deal to Full Israeli Withdrawal from Syrian Soil

Damascus has declared that any future security agreement is contingent upon a full Israeli withdrawal from Syrian soil. The position signals a firm stance reflecting underlying tensions and ongoing occupation issues. The demand places conditions on potential negotiations and underscores Damascus’ prioritization of territorial sovereignty.

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 announced that it will not enter into any security agreement unless there is a full Israeli withdrawal from Syrian soil. This position comes amid ongoing regional tensions and reaffirms Syria’s stand on national sovereignty and the occupation of its land. The announcement was made without elaboration on the mechanisms or timeline of such an agreement, indicating a strategic linkage between political engagement and territorial restitution.

According to the statement, Damascus made clear that the prerequisite for any security accord rests firmly on Israel’s complete retreat from lands identified as Syrian. This condition is not presented as negotiable, underscoring the uncompromising tone of Syrian leadership regarding the matter.

In its declaration, Damascus emphasized that sovereignty and liberation of occupied territory remain the cornerstone of its political approach. The insistence on full Israeli withdrawal precedes any dialogue or framework concerning a security agreement, highlighting the centrality of territorial integrity in Syrian diplomatic decisions. No additional terms or proposals were detailed, and the focus remained strictly on the necessity of a complete pullout.

Meanwhile, there has been no public response from the other side noted in the title, leaving the clarity of their position undiscussed within this development. The specificity of ‘full Israeli withdrawal’ was central to the statement from Damascus, and no partial or phased measures were mentioned.

The conditions outlined reflect the enduring resistance to any form of normalization under occupation and represent a stance anchored in the demand for full restoration of sovereignty over occupied Syrian soil. There was no mention of related regional or international mediation, nor were any frameworks for implementation addressed in the statement.

Damascus’s firm tone signals a continuation of its longstanding posture on foreign military presence within its recognized territories. The demand for full Israeli withdrawal stands as a principal condition, with the announcement abstaining from elaboration on security frameworks or strategic objectives beyond the prerequisite condition.

In addition, the position demonstrates an alignment with broader rejectionist approaches to occupation and enforced presence by foreign entities. No timelines or diplomatic steps were disclosed, signaling that the stance is currently declarative and focused on principle rather than operational steps.

From its side, Damascus did not engage in wider commentary on regional security dynamics, choosing instead to concentrate its message narrowly on the required withdrawal. The statement stands as a clear marker in any future political or security process that may involve Israeli and Syrian negotiations, implying that without compliance to this demand, no movement forward will occur.

The development is significant as it crystallizes the Syrian position into a singular demand and links it to prospective security frameworks. It also reflects the broader sentiment within resistance circles that sovereignty must precede agreements, and liberation of occupied territory is non-negotiable.

Accordingly, Damascus maintains that only under conditions of complete Israeli withdrawal from Syrian soil will a security agreement be considered. The message is unambiguous and is expected to shape the trajectory of any forthcoming diplomatic engagements involving Syria and Israel.

7 Dec, 23:01

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