Jordan’s Ayman Safadi Demands Israel Withdraw From Syrian Territory Occupied Since December 2024

Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi has demanded that Israel withdraw from Syrian territory it occupied following the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s government in December 2024, accusing Israel of undermining regional security as Damascus and Amman seek closer cooperation.

“Israel must withdraw from all Syrian territories it has occupied since the eighth of December two years ago,” Safadi said during talks with Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani in Damascus on Monday, November 9.

“The only state trying to strike this security and stability is Israel,” he said, accusing it of pursuing expansionist objectives. “We call on the whole world to act to stop these attacks before the region is pushed to what is worse.”

The dispute concerns areas Israeli forces entered after Assad’s overthrow on December 8, 2024, including territory within the U.N.-monitored buffer zone. Israel says its military presence is necessary for security, while Syria demands withdrawal and a return to the arrangements established under the 1974 disengagement agreement.

Safadi’s visit also followed Jordanian airstrikes in southern Syria on October 26 that killed civilians and strained relations between the neighboring countries. Amman said it had targeted suspected terrorist positions, while Damascus protested the violation of its sovereignty.

“Syrian blood is as precious to us as Jordanian blood,” Safadi said. The two governments have agreed to establish a joint security committee to examine the strikes and prevent further incidents.

The discussions also addressed growing military cooperation between Syria and Saudi Arabia, amid reports that Syrian personnel could become involved in the conflict in Yemen.

Al-Shaibani rejected reports of a Syrian troop deployment.

“There is no deployment of forces in Yemen and not even a near plan for this,” he said, insisting that any decision to conduct military operations beyond Syria’s borders would be publicly announced.

“If your report speaks of tens of thousands of troops, how could something of that scale possibly be kept secret?” he asked.

The minister said Syria would openly acknowledge any military commitment to Saudi Arabia or another regional partner, describing such cooperation as an honorable position rather than something to conceal.

“Our position is clear and firm,” he said, reaffirming Syria’s support for Arab and Islamic countries confronting attacks and threats from militias.

Reuters has reported that Syrian military personnel have traveled to Saudi Arabia for training and advisory work, while Damascus denies plans to send troops into Yemen. The Associated Press has separately reported preparations for a possible deployment of Syrian fighters to Saudi Arabia, not Yemen.

The ministers met as part of the third session of the Syrian-Jordanian Higher Coordination Council, which is working to deepen cooperation on security, trade, energy and infrastructure.