Syria-Israel: Damascus Works on Multilateral Security Agreement, Says al-Sharaa

Herz — World Desk · 27 July 2026 at 04:15 · 30s summary · 2 min read

What we know

Syria's interim president Ahmed al-Sharaa stated in an Al Jazeera interview that Syria is actively working toward a security agreement with Israel that would involve multiple other countries.

Al-Sharaa hopes such a multilateral accord could pave the way for "comprehensive peace" with Israel.

These remarks coincide with UN Secretary-General António Guterres' visit to Syria—the first by a UN chief in the country since 2009.

Guterres stated that Israeli violations of the 1974 disengagement agreement—signed following the Yom Kippur War to establish a demilitarized zone between Syria and the Golan Heights—are "unacceptable and must stop."

The Golan Heights is Syrian territory.

— António Guterres, UN Secretary-General

Historical context

Syria and Israel have been in a state of official war since 1948. Israel occupied the Golan Heights in 1967 and annexed it in 1981—an annexation not recognized by the international community.

Since the fall of the Assad regime in late 2024, the Israeli military has dramatically expanded its operations in southern Syria, deploying troops into the UN-controlled demilitarized buffer zone separating occupied Golan from the rest of the country.

Timeline of negotiations

1. 1948
   Syria and Israel enter official state of war.
2. 1967
   Israel occupies Syrian Golan Heights.
3. 1981
   Israel annexes Golan Heights; international community does not recognize annexation.
4. Late 2024
   Assad regime falls; Israeli military expands operations in southern Syria and enters UN demilitarized buffer zone.
5. Israel and Syria confirm existence of talks on security agreement to address troop presence in border zone.