Al-Shara' Confirms Efforts to Keep His Country Away from the Conflict in the Middle East

SadaNews - Syrian President Ahmad al-Shara' confirmed on Friday that he is working to keep his country away from any conflict, against the backdrop of the war in the Middle East, which affects neighboring countries, emphasizing that Damascus is in harmony with all regional countries.

In a speech delivered after performing the Eid al-Fitr prayer at the People's Palace in Damascus, al-Shara' said, "What is happening now is a significant event that is rare in history (...) and we calculate our steps with extreme precision and work to keep Syria away from any conflict."

He added, "It is important to remember that Syria has always been a theater of conflict over the past 15 years and before that, but today it is in harmony with all neighboring countries regionally and also internationally, and at the same time, we fully support the Arab countries."

He emphasized that his country has moved to a "new phase and has transformed from being a theater of conflict to an influential arena towards stability and security at the internal and regional levels."

The war in the Middle East erupted after the United States and Israel launched unprecedented strikes on Iran on February 28, to which Tehran responded by targeting Israel and launching attacks on American embassies and interests as well as oil facilities in Gulf countries.

The war extended to Lebanon, which is adjacent to Syria, with Israel launching extensive strikes in response to being targeted by Hezbollah, and to Iraq, where bases of Iranian-backed armed factions are subjected to airstrikes, and Iranian attacks target American interests and opposing Kurdish groups in the north of the country.

After Syria had been a competitive theater for several international powers during years of conflict, this time the country has remained insulated from regional escalation. It is almost the first time that Syrians are witnessing the war from a distance, while Israeli forces intercept Iranian missiles in their airspace directed at them.