Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa has reaffirmed Syria’s claim to the Golan Heights, saying the territory will remain Syrian and rejecting Israel’s claim over the strategic plateau.
Addressing the United Nations General Assembly in New York, al-Sharaa said any attempts to violate Syria’s sovereignty or international law would be opposed. He also called for Israeli forces to withdraw from Syrian territory and reiterated Damascus’s commitment to the 1974 Disengagement of Forces Agreement.
Israel captured the Golan Heights from Syria during the 1967 Six-Day War and formally annexed the territory in 1981. The United Nations continues to regard the Golan Heights as Syrian territory under Israeli occupation and has rejected the annexation.
Al-Sharaa also criticised Israel over its military actions in Syria since the fall of former President Bashar al-Assad. He claimed that Israel had carried out hundreds of airstrikes and incursions, describing the actions as a violation of Syrian sovereignty.
Despite the criticism, the Syrian president said the possibility of peace with Israel remained open, stressing that any settlement should preserve the rights of all sides. He also said Syria and Israel had made significant progress in negotiations toward a security agreement.
Israel’s Defence Minister Israel Katz rejected al-Sharaa’s position, saying the Golan Heights would remain under Israeli sovereignty. Katz described the territory as an integral part of Israel and said Israeli forces would remain in areas they currently control as long as what Israel considers security threats persist.
The latest exchange comes as Syria and Israel continue diplomatic and security discussions, with the Golan Heights and Israeli military presence in southern Syria remaining key points of contention.
