[DAMASCUS] Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa said that his country had sought to reach understandings with Israel through dialogue, but those efforts stalled at the last minute. He added that the Israeli position on Syria has been marked by negativity.
Al-Sharaa made the remarks during his participation in a discussion session held at Chatham House in the British capital, London, where he explained that Damascus had tried, through discussion and dialogue, to reach “good points” with the Israeli side, but recent developments had undermined the chances of progress.
Regarding escalating regional tensions, al-Sharaa affirmed that Syria would not participate in the US-Israeli war against Iran unless it were subjected to direct aggression and if diplomatic solutions were no longer possible. According to observers, this position reflects Syria’s avoidance of being drawn into an open regional confrontation.
Al-Sharaa said he did not share al-Qaida’s policies or ideology and that this disagreement led him to reject that path. He added that Syria’s current leadership is taking a different approach aimed at avoiding past mistakes, signaling an effort to redefine the country’s political direction during the transitional period.
He also referred to what he described as a “shared reality” between Syria and the Gaza Strip, saying Syrians have endured conditions similar to those faced by Palestinians, highlighting the humanitarian and political overlap in the region’s crises.
The remarks come as al-Sharaa pursues diplomatic outreach abroad. He arrived in Britain on an official visit from Germany, where he met with senior officials as part of Syria’s effort to expand political engagement and strengthen ties with European capitals.
