Syrian president says talks underway with Israel on security deal

By Laith Al-jnaidi and Rania Abu Shamala

ISTANBUL (AA) - Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa on Friday said that his country is engaged in negotiations with Israel over a security agreement aimed at reviving the 1974 accord or adopting a similar framework.

In a televised interview with Syrian channel Alikhbariya, he emphasized that Syria “is holding negotiations on a security agreement with Israel to return to the 1974 (Disengagement) agreement or a similar arrangement,” said the president.

Turning to Israel’s policies, the Syrian president said that Tel Aviv "had a plan to divide Syria and drag us into a battleground with Iranians,” adding that Israel was “surprised by the (former President Bashar al-Assad) regime’s ouster.”