Media reports Syria possibly to drop demand that Israel return Golan Heights
(MENAFN) Syria’s new leader, Ahmad al-Sharaa, may be willing to relinquish the country’s claim to the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights as part of a potential peace deal with Israel, Lebanese media outlet LBCI reported on Monday.
Israel originally seized most of the 1,800-square-kilometer territory from Syria during the 1967 war and later annexed it in 1981. Since al-Sharaa’s rise to power last December, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) have also taken additional land amid the internal chaos in Syria. The IDF has launched several strikes on Syrian military forces, which Israel claims are aimed at protecting the Druze community in the region.
According to LBCI, the two nations are exploring a broader agreement that would involve Israel recognizing al-Sharaa’s leadership, pulling back from areas it occupied after his takeover, and allowing limited Syrian military presence near Israel and Jordan’s borders.
In return, Israel would gain recognized sovereignty over the Golan Heights, the report stated. However, hardline factions within Syria, including al-Sharaa’s former group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, may oppose the plan and jeopardize the negotiations.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar reaffirmed Monday that Israel intends to retain control of the Golan Heights under any future peace agreement.
Al-Sharaa has been seeking international legitimacy since ousting former President Bashar Assad. As part of this shift, US President Donald Trump recently lifted most sanctions on Syria to support reconstruction efforts and foreign aid access.
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