Syrian President Addresses 9/11, Israel Deal, Turkish Bases, and Oct. 7

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad addressed several key issues during a press conference in New York, including his alleged past connection to ISIS and the 9/11 attacks, a near-deal with Israel, the presence of Turkish military bases in Syria, and the events of October 7.

Regarding 9/11, Assad, who would have been 13 at the time, stated he had no connection to the attacks and expressed regret for all victims in the US and the Middle East. He suggested it was not the appropriate time to discuss events from 25 years ago, given his age and the different regional circumstances then.

On the topic of a potential agreement with Israel, Assad claimed that the two countries were "almost 90%" towards a deal, but Israel ultimately withdrew for unspecified reasons.

Concerning Turkish military bases in northwestern Syria, Assad indicated that Syria is working to regulate their legal status, asserting that any foreign presence requires popular approval and legal standing.

Addressing the October 7th attacks, Assad acknowledged the suffering of innocent victims but contrasted it with the situation in Gaza, where he stated over 70,000 people, including children and women, have been killed. He argued that October 7th should not dictate Israel's policy towards Syria, calling it illogical and a source of further security threats. Assad emphasized that mutual respect for security is necessary for successful relations, citing positive relationships with the US, UK, and Lebanon as examples, and concluded that the problem lies with Israel, not Syria.