LONDON (MNTV) — Syria’s president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, has said that Syria will remain outside the United States and Israel’s war on Iran unless it is directly targeted, stressing that Damascus seeks to avoid being drawn into another war.
Speaking at an event hosted by Chatham House in London, al-Sharaa said Syria would not become “an arena of war” unless aggression leaves it with no diplomatic alternatives.
He warned that the current regional situation is unstable and increasingly unpredictable, blaming a lack of responsible leadership for the escalating tensions.
The president said Syria aims to maintain balanced relations across the region and with global powers, including Lebanon, Iraq, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, as well as Western states such as the United Kingdom, France, Germany and the United States.
He added that Syria is positioned to build a broader network of strategic partnerships despite the ongoing instability.
Syria has so far attempted to stay on the sidelines of the widening conflict, which has already drawn in neighbouring states.
In Lebanon, Hezbollah continues to repet Israeli ground forces, while in Iraq, Iran-aligned groups have carried out retaliatory drone and rocket attacks against Israel’s aggressive actions.
Earlier this month, Syrian authorities deployed thousands of troops along the country’s western border with Lebanon and eastern frontier with Iraq.
Officials said the move was aimed at securing borders and preventing spillover from the intensifying regional conflict.
Al-Sharaa emphasized that Syria, after years of conflict, is unwilling to endure another war, stating that the country has already paid a heavy price and is not prepared for further destruction.
Analysts warn, however, that the deepening regional crisis risks pulling Syria in despite its stated neutrality.