Syria's President Ahmad al-Sharaa claimed that Israel was preventing stability in Syria during a discussion with US President Donald Trump, Lebanese outlet Al-Akhbar reported on Wednesday.
According to the report, Sharaa had told Trump that "Israel refused to include the word 'withdrawal' in any agreement and halted negotiations when we raised the issue. As long as it refuses to withdraw, why should we sign an agreement with it?"
Sharaa also allegedly told Trump that Hezbollah could not be disarmed until Israel withdrew from Lebanon, and that forceful disarmament would result in the region being plunged into chaos - which Sharaa claimed is what Israel wants.
Erdogan tells Trump Israel destabilizes region
Al-Akhbar also reported that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had met with Trump and echoed Sharaa's sentiments on the importance of an Israeli withdrawal from both Lebanon and Syria.
According to unnamed sources, Erdogan told Trump that Israel "constitutes the primary cause of instability and undermines any political process aimed at containing Iran’s allies."
Erdogan also emphasized that the withdrawal process must not be tied to the upcoming Israeli elections, and should be completed before the end of the year.