Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa with French counterpart Emmanuel Macron at the Élysée Palace in Paris, May 7, 2025

An Uncertain Return to Liberated Damascus

Seeking economic and political space after the overthrow of the Assad regime last December, Syria’s President Ahmed al-Sharaa has met French counterpart Emmanuel Macron in Paris.

And trying to stave off Israel’s aerial assaults and seizure of territory in southwest Syria, the Government has held indirect talks with the Israelis.

Sharaa went to France as Damascus is pursuing the lifting of international sanctions imposed on the Assad regime.

He said bluntly, “There is no justification for maintaining European sanctions.”

The President emphasized cooperation with France on security, reconstruction, justice, and accountability. He added his vision of a Syrian future “where teachers return to teach, farmers return to work their land, and journalists, judges, students, and people freely discuss their opinions”.

Macron: You Must Protect All Syrians

Macron told the President that he must protect all communities in the country amid deadly sectarian violence, including in western Syria and near Damascus in recent weeks.

“You must do everything to assure the protection of all Syrians without exception,” Macron said. “The crimes have profoundly shocked the friends of Syria.”

He urged Sharaa to prosecute those responsible for the attacks.

More than 1,700 people were killed in March, most of them from the Alawite sect to which Bashar al-Assad and many in his inner circle belonged.

Sharaa responded that two committees are investigate and preserve civil peace, committed to holding perpetrators accountable

Macron said sanctions could be lifted on Syria if authorities restore order.

I told the President that if he continues on his path, we would do the same, namely by first progressively lifting European sanctions, and then we would also lobby our American partners to follow suit on this matter.

He also called for the Government to cooperate with the US-backed, Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces against “terrorism” and with the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons; to counter the arming and financing of Lebanon’s Hezbollah; and to ensure it posed no threat to neighbors.

Macron added that the US should delay any plans to withdraw its troops from northeast Syria, and he challenged Israeli airstrikes as counter-productive.

As for bombings and incursions, I think it’s bad practice. You don’t ensure your country’s security by violating the territorial integrity of your neighbors.

See also UPDATES: Israel’s Airstrikes on Damascus Amid Tension in Southern Syria

Talks With Israel

Sharaa confirmed at the press conference that talks with Israel, using unnamed mediators, were underway.

Labelling Israel’s airstrikes and ground incursions as “random interventions”, the President said, “There are indirect talks with Israel through mediators to calm and attempt to absorb the situation so that it does not reach a level that both sides lose control over”.

He added that Damascus was talking to states that communicate with Israel to “pressure them to stop intervening in Syrian affairs and bomb some of its infrastructure”.

Well-placed analysts said in early April that Turkey, with support from US and UAE mediators, sought the Syrian-Israeli talks.

The initiative advanced after Sharaa visited the UAE, with a focus on “technical matters.” A “senior Syrian security source” said the backchannel was on security-related issues, including several counter-terrorism files. Purely military matters — including Israeli army activities in Syria — are outside the scope of the discussions for now.

Macron emphasized, “Israel’s bombings are a bad practice. One does not secure one’s country by violating the sovereignty of neighbors.”

He noted that Sharaa was “open to launching a technical process for security coordination” with the Israelis.