Damascus, Syria – The Syrian Ministry of Information on Tuesday denied reports claiming that President Ahmad Al-Sharaa has held meetings with Israeli officials.
A source at the ministry told the state-run Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) that rumors about any such meetings or talks between President Al-Sharaa and Israeli representatives are “completely unfounded.”
The denial comes a day after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed that President Al-Sharaa had opened a channel of communication with Israel, offering what Netanyahu described as “an opportunity for peace.”
Speaking alongside U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House, Netanyahu said: “I think that everyone understands that the situation is changed. Before that, Iran was essentially running Syria. Iran is out of the picture, so I think that this presents opportunities for stability, for security, and eventually for peace.”
Read more: Netanyahu: Syria, Under Al-Sharaa, Opens Peace Channel with Israel
Netanyahu stressed that this alleged communication channel could pave the way for Syria to benefit from regional peace efforts.
Meanwhile, President Al-Sharaa arrived in the United Arab Emirates on Monday as part of a Gulf tour aimed at strengthening economic ties. According to SANA, this is Al-Sharaa’s second official visit to Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries as Syria seeks to expand economic cooperation and attract Gulf investments for its post-war reconstruction plans.
President Shar’a began his visit in Abu Dhabi, where he met UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. The two leaders discussed boosting economic and development cooperation and supporting Syria’s efforts to rebuild and stabilize after years of conflict.
Al-Sharaa emphasized that Syria is turning the page on war and division and is looking to build strategic partnerships with Gulf nations. He also praised the UAE’s role in promoting regional stability and expressed interest in benefiting from Emirati expertise in sustainable development, digital transformation, and clean energy.
