Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani said Israel’s continued violations against Syria have obstructed U.S. mediation efforts aimed at reaching an agreement between Damascus and Tel Aviv.
His remarks came during a joint press conference with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan in the Turkish capital, Ankara, on Thursday, April 9.
According to Anadolu Agency, al-Shibani said Israel continues to violate Syrian sovereignty and airspace and to carry out ground incursions.
He called on the United States and the international community to “support the implementation of the 1974 agreement, demand the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Syrian territory, and give the Syrian people, exhausted by war, the chance to rebuild their devastated country.”
Al-Shibani added that U.S. mediation between Damascus and Tel Aviv, which included meetings in London and Paris over recent months, had stalled because of near-daily Israeli violations, including raids on homes, searches, and the arrest of civilians, among them children and shepherds.
Support for Hezbollah disarmament
Regarding the Israeli assault on Lebanon, al-Shibani expressed Syria’s condemnation of the Israeli bombardment and affirmed Damascus’ support for the Lebanese government.
According to Anadolu, the Syrian foreign minister said, “We support Hezbollah’s disarmament, and we look forward to a strategic partnership with Lebanon. It is a neighboring country with which we share longstanding ties, and we thank it for hosting Syrian refugees.”
The Syrian state news agency, SANA, also quoted al-Shibani as saying, “We want there to be a strategic and economic partnership between Syria and Lebanon. We support stability, peace, and a ceasefire there, and we back the Lebanese government’s efforts to resolve problems through Lebanese-led efforts and national means.”
Strategic partnership with Turkey
On ties with Turkey, al-Shibani said, “Together with the sisterly Republic of Turkey, we have launched a new era defined by strategic partnership and mutual respect,” according to SANA.
He added, “In Ankara, we found an ally and a reliable partner whose support has taken the form of tangible action in reconstruction efforts, institutional capacity-building, and laying the foundations for stability.”
Al-Shibani also revealed that a “strategic vision” was taking shape between the two countries through the Four Seas project, which aims to turn Syria and Turkey together into a “main artery for redistributing energy between the Arabian Gulf, the Caspian Sea, the Mediterranean Sea, and the Black Sea.”
He said the talks also covered “strengthening cooperation in the sectors of energy, trade, and infrastructure, and raising the level of security coordination to control our shared borders and avert threats targeting our national security,” according to SANA.
Implementing SDF agreement, elections soon in al-Hasakah
Al-Shibani stressed that “our compass is clear: one state, one army,” affirming that implementation of the agreement between the Syrian government and the Syrian Democratic Forces, SDF, is moving forward.
According to SANA, he said, “We are moving ahead with implementing the comprehensive agreement concluded between the Syrian Arab Republic and the SDF. Work is currently underway to integrate it into the ranks and formations of the Syrian army, and for the state to regain exclusive administration of all border crossings, oil and gas fields, and civil institutions.”
In the same context, al-Shibani announced that “the Syrian People’s Assembly, the first parliament representing free Syria, will hold its inaugural session after elections are held soon in al-Hasakah.”
Welcomes U.S.-Iran Truce, Criticizes Tehran
Al-Shibani welcomed the truce announced early Wednesday between the United States and Iran through Pakistani mediation, which is set to last for two weeks ahead of a final agreement to end the war.
According to SANA, the Syrian foreign minister said, “We hope it leads to lasting stability that removes danger from the entire region.” He added, “Syria welcomes the declared truce and urgently calls for laying solid foundations that enhance security and stability in the region.”
In sharp criticism of Tehran’s role over the past years, Anadolu quoted al-Shibani as saying, “Syria has suffered for more than 14 years from Iran and its militias. Their intervention has taken a heavy toll on Syria, resulting in the deaths of one million people, the displacement of 15 million Syrians, and the destruction of 4 million Syrian homes.”
He added, “We declared our support for the Arab states exposed to Iran’s unjustified bombardment, and we supported efforts to ensure that sovereignty in Lebanon and Iraq remains in the hands of the state, not armed entities outside its framework.”
Call for global participation in reconstruction
The Syrian minister called on the international community “to participate in Syria’s reconstruction through an effective partnership that would constitute
He said that “the intertwined challenges resulting from war in the region have combined to create an environment hostile to investment, double reconstruction costs, and obstruct economic recovery paths across the wider Arab region.”
Still, al-Shibani said Syria is “continuing its strategic plans for reconstruction and development, expanding partnerships, implementing transitional justice, building institutions, and providing a safe environment for the return of refugees.”
Israel Trying to Sabotage the Truce
For his part, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said, according to Anadolu, that the two-week truce period might not be enough and could be extended if both sides agree. He added, “Global public opinion must be able to respond to possible sabotage attempts by Israel.”
Fidan also said Israel is exporting the genocide it committed in Gaza to Lebanon, stressing that “Syria’s stability is one of the most important pillars of stability and peace in the region,” and that “security and stability in Syria and Turkey complement one another.”
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