Damascus, July 4, 2025 — Syria announced on Friday that it is willing to cooperate with the United States to restore the 1974 disengagement agreement with Israel, which had established a UN-monitored buffer zone along the Golan Heights following the 1973 Yom Kippur War.Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani conveyed Damascus’s intentions in a statement following a phone call with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. He said Syria was keen to “cooperate with the United States to return to the 1974 disengagement agreement,” signaling a potential diplomatic opening facilitated by American mediation .The original 1974 agreement, brokered by the UN and backed by UNSC Resolution 350, created the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) to supervise a ceasefire and the separation of Israeli and Syrian forces in the Golan Heights .Recent diplomatic activity has reshaped the regional environment. Since Islamist rebels overthrew Bashar al-Assad’s regime in December, a transitional Syrian government under President Ahmed al‑Sharaa has signaled openness to reconsidering its posture toward Israel and the West. U.S.-mediated talks have included direct security discussions and moves toward normalization, accompanied by gestures to de-escalate tensions along the border .Syria’s renewed interest also comes amid mounting Israeli military incursions into southern Syria. Damascus has accused Israel of violating the 1974 terms through ground deployments in the buffer zone . In this context, Syria emphasized that restoring the buffer zone framework would contribute to stabilizing the ceasefire.The discussion reportedly included broader U.S.-Syrian diplomatic cooperation, such as potential resumption of embassy operations and discussions on easingsanctions under the Caesar Act . Syria is hopeful that reviving the disengagement agreement could open the door to a wider normalization process, including restored diplomatic ties.The UN peacekeeping mission UNDOF remains critical to implementing any reactivated framework. Israeli acceptance will be necessary for reestablishing the 235 km² demilitarized zone, and the U.S. is poised to take a lead mediation role. However, political hurdles remain – the agreement is not a comprehensive peace treaty, and broader bilateral relations between Syria and Israel, notably on the fate of the Golan Heights, will need addressing .As Washington prepares for a potential recalibration of Middle East policy ahead of the U.S. presidential election, Syria’s initiative could mark a pivotal step toward regional de-escalation – but much remains unresolved.⸻
