Syrian president: We won’t intervene militarily in Lebanon; working on a security deal with Israel

By Nurit Yohanan

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26 July 2026, 1:29 pm

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Nurit Yohanan is The Times of Israel's Palestinian and Arab world correspondent

Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa meets with US President Donald Trump (not pictured) on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey, July 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa tells Al Jazeera that Syria has no intention of intervening militarily in Lebanon, amid Lebanon’s continued difficulties in dealing with Hezbollah and following reported US proposals that Syria assume a security role there in place of Israel.

Sharaa also says that Syria is working toward a security agreement with Israel with the involvement of several countries. If successful, he says, such an agreement could pave the way for comprehensive peace without Syria relinquishing its claim to the Golan Heights.

He adds that Syria has no interest in a confrontation with Israel and is seeking to avoid one.