Deal Reached, Signature Denied
Saudi Report: Israel and Syria Reached Security Agreement, But Netanyahu Refused to Sign
A Saudi report claims Israel and Syria secretly reached a U.S.-brokered security deal, only for Netanyahu to refuse signing at the last moment, igniting new tensions over territory, airstrikes, and America’s next move.
Saudi newspaper Asharq Al-Awsat reported that Israel and Syria reached a written security agreement three months ago during U.S.-mediated talks, but Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ultimately declined to sign it, according to Israel Hayom.
According to the report, the deal was expected to be finalized on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in September, attended by Syria’s de facto president, Ahmad al-Sharaa (al-Julani). Despite the negotiations reaching an advanced stage, sources said Netanyahu refused to approve the agreement.
Israel Hayom added that the sources warned that the situation in southern Syria remains highly unstable and that Damascus expects the United States to pressure Israel to halt the escalation. They added that Syria hopes to “restore the previous situation,” asserting that “President Trump is the one who can influence Israel to end the escalation in all of southern Syria.”
Syrian officials have repeatedly demanded over the past year that Israel withdraw from areas it seized since December 2024, returning to the terms of the 1974 Separation of Forces Agreement.
The report also cited senior Syrian sources claiming Israel has carried out more than 1,000 airstrikes and over 400 ground raids in southern provinces since December 2024.
According to Asharq Al-Awsat, Israel now controls more than 460 square kilometers of territory in Syria following the collapse of the Assad regime last year, where it has established nine military bases, observation posts, and checkpoints. The report further alleges that Israel now holds the Hermon crown area, enabling extensive surveillance over Syrian and Lebanese territory.
A Syrian source familiar with the details told N12, “The final draft of the agreement is almost ready and in its last stages. A breakthrough could happen very soon. The agreement’s terms are largely agreed upon, with many clauses symbolically signed and written, waiting for U.S. officials to approach Israel and say: ‘This is the final formula, and we want to move forward.’ The pause is currently on Israel’s side, not Syria’s. So far, the formula is acceptable to Syria and largely acceptable to Israel.”
The source added that delays appear linked to internal Israeli politics, suggesting Prime Minister Netanyahu may be seeking a deal in coordination with former President Trump, potentially connected to his legal situation.
In a related development, Reuters reported that several U.S. sanctions imposed during the Assad era may be lifted within weeks. Their removal is included in a broad defense policy bill expected to pass the U.S. Congress soon. Since Assad’s fall, Washington has already eased many sanctions, measures that are likely to further strengthen Syria’s economy under al-Shar’a.