Syrian Interim President Ahmed al-Shaara has been acting “irrationally” since his landmark visit to Washington last week, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told the Security Cabinet on Friday, warning that the Syrian leader had “come back inflated” from his talks with US President Donald Trump.
According to a report in The Jerusalem Post, Netanyahu said Shaara had “started doing all sorts of things since the meeting with Trump in Washington.” The visit marked the first time a Syrian president had formally traveled to the US capital, coming six months after their initial encounter in Saudi Arabia. During that earlier meeting, Trump announced plans to lift sanctions just days before Washington removed Shaara from its “Specially Designated Global Terrorist” list.
Following the latest talks, Trump publicly embraced Shaara, vowing to “do everything” he could to support Syria’s success. Speaking to reporters, the US president described Shaara — a former al-Qaeda commander — as a “strong leader,” adding, “We’ve all had rough pasts,” in a comment that drew sharp criticism from some regional observers.
Netanyahu also confirmed reports of a Russian delegation visiting southern Syria, close to the Israeli border, underscoring intensifying foreign involvement in the area as discussions over potential security arrangements continue.
On Wednesday, Netanyahu, Defense Minister Israel Katz, and senior military and government officials toured positions in southern Syria, visiting an IDF post, meeting active-duty and reserve soldiers, and praising their conduct during the war. “We are proud of our soldiers,” Netanyahu said, while fielding questions about future security plans.
Damascus responded angrily to the high-profile visit. In a statement, the Syrian Foreign Ministry condemned the tour as a “serious violation of Syria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity,” insisting that all Israeli measures in southern Syria are “null and void under international law” and reiterating Syria’s demand for a full Israeli withdrawal from its territory.