Syrian president says country trying to respond to Israeli actions with ‘patience and wisdom’

Interim Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa says he’s trying to respond to Israeli moves in Syria with “patience and wisdom.”

Speaking to Reuters, Sharaa rejects Israeli accusations that his new government poses a threat to Israel. Israel has occupied a buffer zone along the border and vowed to keep southern Syria demilitarized. Israeli leaders have also kept up a strident verbal campaign against Sharaa, calling him an “al-Qaeda terrorist.”

Israel has also carried out a series of strikes to destroy much of the Syrian army’s military equipment.

“We are trying to use patience and wisdom as much as possible. If there are fears, we have announced from the first moments that Syria will not pose a threat to any state in the region or the world. And if there are expansionist motives, the entire world agreed with Syria to condemn Israel’s steps in advancing on Syrian territory,” he says.

In response to Israeli accusations that his forces could carry out a cross-border attack into Israel, he said: “I mean, a delusional person can say whatever they want. Every person can imagine that he is suffering from some danger and carry out a preemptive strike and kill. But that is not justifiable.”