In statements to Al Jazeera, excerpts of which were released before the full interview aired, Al-Sharaa noted: “We’re avoiding confrontation with Israel, and it is not in our best interest.”

The president emphasized that Syria is working to reach a security agreement with Israel with the participation of several countries.

“If the security agreement with Israel is successful, it will pave the way for comprehensive peace without Syria relinquishing its claim to the occupied Golan Heights,” he affirmed.

Israel has occupied most of the Syrian Golan Heights since 1967. Following the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s government in December 2014, Tel Aviv declared the collapse of the 1974 Disengagement Agreement and deployed forces in the Syrian buffer zone.

Regarding the future of relations between Syria and Lebanon in the post-Assad era, Al-Sharaa asserted that Damascus is not planning any military intervention in Lebanese territory.

“We have no intention of undertaking any military intervention in Lebanon,” he stated, adding that Syria is holding talks with the Lebanese government to find solutions that contribute to the security of the neighboring country.

The Syrian president considered that the Lebanese crisis should not be addressed solely from a security perspective and indicated that Damascus is working on a comprehensive approach.

“Any chaos in Lebanon will directly affect Syria,” he warned.

He also expressed his support for the Lebanese state’s monopoly on weapons and its authority to decide on matters related to war and peace.

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