He warns that Israeli insistence on maintaining forces in the Golan complicates progress. He proposes a Four Seas logistics network to boost regional stability and energy routes.
Syrian leader Ahmed ash-Sharaa told Anadolu in an interview that talks with Israel have not reached a dead end, but remain significantly complicated. The main obstacle is Israel’s desire to maintain a military presence on Syrian territory, notably in the Golan Heights, which they view as a security buffer on the plain.
According to ash-Sharaa, Damascus is serious about reaching a security agreement for regional stability. The leader also urged Middle Eastern countries to more actively use Syria’s logistical capabilities in light of the crisis between the United States and Iran.
Syria is positioned as a safe corridor and a potential route for energy supplies, ash-Sharaa emphasized. He noted that a portion of Iraqi oil is already being routed through Syrian ports, and the country’s geographic location allows linking supply routes between the Persian Gulf, Turkey, and the Mediterranean.
The leader also proposed the idea of a “Four Seas” architecture – a large-scale logistics project that would connect the routes of the Caspian, Mediterranean, and Red Seas with the Persian Gulf via Azerbaijan, Syria, and Turkey. In his words, such a concept could reduce logistics costs and create sustainable alternatives, including for bypassing the Strait of Hormuz.
The Situation Near the Syria–Israel Border
As of July 2025, border trends have shown an escalation. On July 15, Israeli forces carried out strikes against Syrian forces in the al-Suwayda region.
An Israeli military statement stressed their commitment to preventing harm to friends in Syria through close ties with partners in the region.
On July 16, clashes occurred on the border between the Golan Heights and Syria: reports of attempted incursions into territory controlled by Israel, as well as protests by Syrians living in the Golan against the authorities’ actions.
According to sources, these events illustrate the acute nature of the regional situation and underscore the importance of security arrangements in future negotiations.
All indications point to the high sensitivity of security issues in the region and the importance of logistics for potential deals between Syria and Israel. Negotiations continue, but the path to an agreement requires ensuring security and control over territorial issues.