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The Day · Sunday 7 December 2025

Filed 23:16 · Palestine time (UTC+2) · World

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Damascus Links Security Agreement to Full Israeli Withdrawal from Syrian Soil

Damascus has declared that any prospective security agreement will be contingent upon a complete Israeli withdrawal from Syrian soil. The statement affirms Syria’s position regarding the presence of Israeli forces and underscores that no such accords will be considered without conditions being fulfilled in full.

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 officially stated that it will not engage in any security agreement unless there is a full Israeli withdrawal from Syrian soil. This position was asserted without qualification, clearly linking any future developments in security arrangements to the removal of Israeli presence from occupied areas within Syrian territory.

According to the statement, the Syrian leadership has emphasized that sovereignty over its land remains non-negotiable. Damascus continues to underscore that security cannot be achieved under occupation, and that the absence of full Israeli withdrawal renders any agreement void of legitimacy or substance.

In asserting this stance, Damascus signals a clear refusal to compromise on principles of territorial integrity. The demand for a full Israeli withdrawal remains central, and Damascus has tied it unequivocally to the possibility of any formalized security cooperation or pact.

Meanwhile, the refusal to accept any partial settlement reaffirms a broader strategic posture, illustrating a resistance-centered approach to foreign occupation. Damascus maintains that national dignity and rights are inseparable from security considerations, and that concessions under occupation would represent a betrayal of the Syrian cause.

From its side, Syrian leadership has made clear that any steps forward must begin with concrete actions by Israel to vacate Syrian land. This includes all areas under Israeli control, as defined by Syrian authorities, leaving no space for ambiguity in the conditions imposed by Damascus.

In addition, Damascus’s message stresses that international actors should not expect progress on security alignments while occupation continues. The call for full withdrawal is not framed as a negotiating tactic but rather as a precondition firmly rooted in what the Syrian government regards as an inherent right.

Throughout recent declarations, this stance has not shifted, with Damascus consistently asserting that restoration of territorial control is indispensable for any legitimate engagement on matters of regional or border security.

Observers viewed the reaffirmation as a direct message to any parties considering mediation or deals with Israel while overlooking the demands of occupied states. The insistence on a full Israeli withdrawal before any agreement acts as a definitive statement of policy backed by political resolve.

Hence, any security agreement involving Damascus is firmly hinged on a singular term: the total removal of Israeli forces from Syrian soil. Without this, Syrian officials indicate that no discussions on stability, security, or cooperation can occur, as the presence of occupation remains an affront to the nation’s sovereignty and security imperatives

7 Dec, 23:16

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