Israeli foreign minister claims interest in Syria deal despite ongoing occupation

By Burak Dag and Merve Berker

JERUSALEM/ Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar claimed Wednesday that despite Israel’s ongoing occupation of Syrian territory, his country is pursuing a “security-based agreement” with the Damascus government and is not interested in territorial expansion.

Saar said in an interview with Saudi-owned Al Arabiya TV, which is based in Dubai, that a potential deal between Tel Aviv and Damascus could be beneficial for both sides. “We have never had territorial ambitions in Syria; otherwise, we could have taken more land.”

Following the Dec. 8, 2024, ousting of the Baath regime in Syria, Israel expanded its occupation in southern Syria and conducted airstrikes targeting remaining regime military infrastructure.

Saar attempted to justify Israel’s presence by saying it aimed to prevent Syrian soil from being used as a launchpad for attacks.

Despite international calls to withdraw, Israeli forces have extended the occupation in the Golan Heights, which is a part of Syrian territory, up to 25 kilometers (15.5 miles) from Damascus.

Saar also asserted that Israel aims to normalize relations with Lebanon, despite continuing cross-border attacks after a Nov. 27, 2024, ceasefire was signed.

He said it would require the “elimination of Hezbollah.”

While claiming that disagreements with Beirut are “limited and resolvable,” Saar denied Israeli violations of Lebanese sovereignty.

Touching on the Gaza Strip, where Israel carried out attacks for two years and continues to do so after a ceasefire was reached in October, Saar said he hoped the current ceasefire would hold but claimed Hamas’ military presence prevents a lasting resolution.

Even though the Syrian government poses no threat, Israeli forces have repeatedly entered Syrian territory and launched airstrikes, killing civilians and destroying Syrian military sites, vehicles, weapons and ammunition.

Syrian government data shows that since December 2024, Israel has carried out over 1,000 airstrikes on Syria and more than 400 cross-border raids into the southern provinces.

After the fall of the Bashar al-Assad regime in late 2024, Israel expanded its occupation of the Syrian Golan Heights by seizing the demilitarized buffer zone, a move that violated a 1974 agreement with Syria.