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

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, speaking to journalists in New York, addressed several key issues including his alleged past connection to ISIS, a near-peace agreement with Israel, the presence of Turkish military bases in Syria, and the October 7th attacks.

Regarding the September 11th attacks, Assad, who was 13 at the time, stated he had no connection to them and expressed sorrow 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 peace with Israel, Assad claimed that Syria and Israel were "almost 90%" towards an agreement, but Israel ultimately withdrew, citing unspecified reasons. He also addressed the presence of Turkish military bases in northwestern Syria, stating that Syria is working to regulate their legal status, as any foreign presence requires popular approval and legal standing.

Commenting on the October 7th Hamas 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 the October 7th events 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 protecting one's own safety, pointing to successful relations with the US, UK, and Lebanon as examples, and concluded that the problem lies with Israel, not Syria.