Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani has demanded that Israel withdraw its forces from the buffer zone with Syria, following the removal of Bashar al-Assad. Israel deployed troops to the area after al-Assad was ousted by opposition fighters. Sheikh Mohammed criticized the Israeli occupation of the buffer zone and called for immediate withdrawal. He also promised support for the new administration in Syria and the rehabilitation of the country’s infrastructure. He mentioned providing technical support for infrastructure operations and aid to the electricity sector.
Sheikh Mohammed highlighted the negative impact of sanctions on Syria and called for their lifting. The US and EU have imposed sanctions on al-Assad and his government for alleged war crimes. The US Treasury recently issued a general license allowing certain transactions with the Syrian government to meet basic human needs and provide humanitarian assistance. The EU is set to discuss lifting sanctions at the end of January.
At a news conference, Sheikh Mohammed emphasized Qatar’s role in pressuring Israel to withdraw from the buffer zone, along with Western nations and the US. De facto Syrian ruler Ahmed al-Sharaa expressed readiness to welcome UN forces into the buffer zone and blamed Israel’s advance on the presence of Iranian militias and Hezbollah. He stated that Israel’s pretexts for entering Syrian regions were no longer valid after the liberation of Damascus.Overall, Sheikh Moahmmed’s press conference made Qatar’s support and willingness to assist in Syria’s rehabilitation and recovery efforts clear while also urging for international cooperation and the lifting of sanctions on Damascus.
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