Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa leveled a blistering accusation against Israel on Saturday, charging that Jerusalem is deliberately �exporting crises� to neighboring countries in an effort to divert international attention from what he called �horrifying massacres� in Gaza.

Speaking during an onstage interview at the Doha Forum in Qatar, Sharaa claimed Israel is manufacturing regional instability to evade scrutiny for its military campaign.

�Israel� tries to run away from the horrifying massacres committed in Gaza, and it does so by attempting to export crises,� he said. �Israel has become a country that is in a fight against ghosts,� he added, alleging that Israeli leaders invoke security fears and warnings of another October 7 attack �to justify every action it takes, even though no such correlation exists.�

Sharaa insisted that his government has taken a conciliatory posture since coming to power following the collapse of Bashar Assad�s regime.

�Since we arrived in Damascus, we sent positive messages regarding regional peace and stability� and that we are not interested in being a country that exports conflict, including to Israel,� he said. �But in return, Israel has met us with extreme violence.�

The Syrian leader cited last month�s deadly Israeli strike on armed factions in the southern Syrian town of Beit Jinn as an example of escalating aggression. He further claimed Syria has endured �massive violations� of its sovereignty, including �over 1,000 airstrikes and over 400 incursions� in recent years.

Sharaa renewed his demand that Israel withdraw from the Golan territories it seized in December during the final collapse of Assad�s regime. He voiced support for the 1974 disengagement agreement that established the Golan buffer zone but warned Israel against exploring new security arrangements.

�Tampering with it, and seeking other agreements such as a demilitarized zone� could lead us to a dangerous place,� he said.

Addressing internal unrest, Sharaa acknowledged reports of atrocities committed against minorities in the Sweida region. Still, he maintained that Syria is �a country governed by the rule of law� and pledged that those responsible �will be held accountable.�

Israel did not immediately respond to Sharaa�s remarks.

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