Overview

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said a deal with Syria is achievable if Damascus accepts a demilitarised buffer zone stretching from Damascus to Jabal al‑Sheikh (Mount Hermon), territory Israel currently controls. His remarks follow months of US-mediated talks and recent Israeli operations inside Syria, including a raid in Beit Jinn that killed 13 people. Netanyahu defended Israel’s hold on the areas as necessary for the country’s security and said any agreement must respect those security principles.

The Trump administration is pushing for a non‑aggression pact and has voiced support for Syria’s new president, Ahmed al‑Sharaa, but media reports indicate negotiations have recently stalled. Israeli unwillingness to withdraw recent territorial gains and demands to retain an aerial corridor through Syria to Iran are cited as key sticking points. Netanyahu said an agreement is possible ‘with goodwill’ but reiterated Israel will stand by its demands, as reported by Al Jazeera