Syrian Official Warns Israeli Demands Risk Escalation

A senior Syrian official has warned that Israel's demand for a demilitarized zone in southern Syria could lead to a dangerous escalation between the two nations. Ahmed al-Sharaa, Syria's Deputy Foreign Minister, issued the warning at the Doha Forum on Saturday. He stated that Israel's continued insistence on the condition puts the region in a "dangerous place." Israel has long sought a buffer zone, an area free of military forces, along the Syrian side of the Golan Heights border. Israeli troops currently occupy part of this territory, which is patrolled by United Nations observers. In recent years, Israel has also conducted numerous airstrikes inside Syria. It claims these operations target Iranian forces and allied militias, which it views as a security threat.