Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa said Damascus fully supports restricting weapons and decisions of war and peace to the Lebanese State, while ruling out any Syrian military intervention in Lebanon despite persistent speculation.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with Al Jazeera, Al-Sharaa said Syria is discussing ways to help Lebanese authorities navigate the country's political and security crisis rather than becoming directly involved.

He stressed that Lebanon's challenges cannot be resolved through security measures alone but require a comprehensive political, economic and institutional approach. He also warned that any descent into chaos in Lebanon would have immediate consequences for neighboring Syria.

Al-Sharaa added that a wider escalation involving the United States, Israel and Iran would carry serious repercussions for the entire region.

Syria Pursuing Security Agreement With Israel

Turning to Syria's own regional policy, Al-Sharaa revealed that Damascus is actively working toward a security agreement with Israel with the involvement of several countries.

He expressed hope that such an arrangement could eventually pave the way for broader peace, while emphasizing that it would not compromise Syria's claim to the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights.

The Syrian president said his government is deliberately avoiding military confrontation with Israel, arguing that a security arrangement could open the door to a more comprehensive resolution of the longstanding conflict.

His remarks come after repeated Israeli airstrikes and military incursions into southern Syria following his rise to power in December 2024 after the collapse of Bashar al-Assad's government.

Sanctions, Kurdish Agreement and Missing Persons

On domestic issues, Al-Sharaa argued that lifting U.S. and international economic sanctions alone would not be sufficient to revive Syria's economy unless the country is also removed from the U.S. list of state sponsors of terrorism.

Addressing the government's agreement with the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which controls large parts of northeastern Syria, Al-Sharaa acknowledged delays in implementing the deal but insisted Damascus remains fully committed to it and expects it to succeed.

He also announced the creation of a special national committee to address the issue of people who disappeared during Syria's civil war between 2011 and 2024.

According to United Nations estimates, around 100,000 people were forcibly disappeared during the conflict, while Syria's National Commission on Missing Persons believes the true number could reach 300,000.

Al-Sharaa said the committee would operate according to international standards and work closely with countries that have specialized expertise in locating and identifying missing persons.