The Al-Akhbar (Hezbollah-affiliated Lebanese daily) newspaper reported Wednesday morning on a Turkish-Qatari proposal presented by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to US President Donald Trump during their recent meeting in Ankara.
According to sources, Erdogan – who is aware of Israeli pressure on the Trump administration regarding the war on Iran and other regional issues – proposed that the US support a broad economic project involving several countries in the region, with an emphasis on Syria, Lebanon, and Iraq. The report added that Erdogan had previously discussed the outlines of this project with the US special envoy to Syria, Tom Barrack. According to the report, the project is designed "to provide stable and secure foundations in the region, in a way that will enable the launch of major economic enterprises."
The sources noted that Erdogan complained to Trump about the Israeli "occupation" in Syria and Lebanon, alongside Israel's ongoing attacks in regional countries and threats toward other nations. He charged that this is "the main cause of instability that harms any process aimed at reining in Iran's allies." Additionally, Erdogan explained to Trump the importance of a rapid Israeli withdrawal from territories in Lebanon and Syria, as a precursor to future security arrangements between Israel, Lebanon, and Syria, the report said.
According to the report, Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa also raised the issue of withdrawals during his meeting with Trump, emphasizing that stability in Syria requires the restoration of sovereignty over all its territory. He was quoted as saying, "Israel is preventing a solution in southern Syria, refused to include the word 'withdrawal' in the agreement, and halted negotiations when this issue arose. As long as it refuses to withdraw, why should we sign an agreement with it?"
The ruling regime in Damascus is primarily demanding a return to the 1974 Separation of Forces Agreement and an Israeli withdrawal from the territories captured after the collapse of the Assad regime in December 2024.
