Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa confirmed on May 7th that Syria is holding indirect negotiations with Israel, Al-Monitor reported via Reuters.
Speaking at a joint press conference with French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris, al-Sharaa stated that the talks aim to “calm the situation and prevent it from spiralling out of control.” The announcement follows weeks of intensified regional tensions and military activity near the Syrian-Israeli border.
Al-Sharaa came to power after the fall of Bashar al-Assad in December 2024, as reported by Reuters on December 8th and cited by Levantis. Opposition groups, led by Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), declared the end of Assad’s rule.
This marked the end of the Assad family’s grip on the country. Assad fled Damascus on the day of the takeover, according to senior army officials. The Syrian army announced it would continue military operations against remaining “terrorist groups” in Hama, Homs, and Daraa.
According to Levantis on March 27th, Ahmed al-Sharaa, formerly known as Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, stated that he is focused on reshaping Syria.
Once a commander in a rebel group linked to al-Qaeda, al-Sharaa has since moved to present more pragmatic and inclusive leadership.
He has emphasised national reconstruction, refugee return, and restoring Syria’s global ties. He has also affirmed Syria will respect personal freedoms and minority rights as part of his broader rebuilding strategy for his country.
Al-Sharaa reportedly told Congressman Cory Mills that Syria is willing to normalise ties with Israel and join the Abraham Accords under specific conditions, Middle East Eye reported on April 24th.
These conditions include dismantling Assad-era chemical stockpiles and cooperating on counterterrorism. Outside of bilateral relations, Syria faces economic challenges, with the majority of its citizens living in deprivation.
Al-Monitor, Middle East Eye, Reuters, Levantis
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