PARIS – In a strongly worded press briefing on Thursday, November 20, 2025, France's Foreign Ministry urged Israel to immediately withdraw its military forces from Syrian territory, emphasizing that any presence in the UN-mandated buffer zone constitutes a clear violation of the 1974 Disengagement Agreement. The statement comes amid heightened tensions following Israel's expanded operations in the Golan Heights area after the fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime in late 2024 and reflects Paris's broader push for de-escalation across the Middle East.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Pascal Confavreux reiterated France's "firm commitment" to upholding the 1974 accord, signed in Geneva after the Yom Kippur War, which established a demilitarized zone monitored by the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF). "France calls for the withdrawal of the Israeli army and insists on full respect for Syria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity," Confavreux stated during the briefing at the Quai d'Orsay. He warned that Israel's actions risk undermining the fragile political transition in Syria, where interim authorities have struggled to consolidate power since rebels ousted Assad in December 2024.
The 1974 Disengagement Agreement, a cornerstone of Israel-Syria relations for over five decades, delineates two separation lines with a buffer zone in between, prohibiting military deployments by either side. Israel's incursion into this zone, justified by Jerusalem as a "temporary defensive measure" against potential threats from post-Assad chaos, has drawn widespread international criticism. The UN Security Council, in a statement earlier this month, echoed France's concerns, noting that "illegal military actions set dangerous precedents" and calling on all states to respect Syria's unity. UNDOF, which patrols the area with around 1,000 personnel from multiple nations including France, has reported over 200 Israeli airstrikes in Syria since December 2024, many targeting alleged strategic weapons sites.
Confavreux highlighted Paris's support for a bilateral security pact between Israel and Syria to foster "good-neighborly relations" and aid Syria's transition to a unified state. "This is not about confrontation but about stability," he added, referencing France's diplomatic efforts alongside the U.S. and EU partners. Syria's interim Prime Minister Mohammed al-Bashir has welcomed such initiatives, stating in a UN address last week that foreign interventions only prolong the country's suffering after 14 years of civil war. Analysts note that France's position aligns with broader European calls for restraint, including from Germany and Spain, who urged Israel to avoid fragmenting Syria further.
Shifting to the Palestinian territories, Confavreux expressed deep alarm over surging violence by Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank, describing it as a "policy of terror" that erodes prospects for peace. Recent incidents, including the arson of a mosque in Deir Istiya on November 13 and attacks on olive harvesters near Tulkarem on November 11, have left dozens injured and prompted rare condemnations from Israeli leaders. France has called for thorough investigations, noting the arrest of four extremist settlers in connection with the Tulkarem assaults, and demanded "appropriate sanctions" to combat impunity.
"All plans amounting to de facto annexation, particularly settlement projects that threaten the territorial integrity of the West Bank, remain red lines for France," Confavreux affirmed. Paris continues to back the Palestinian Authority as the sole legitimate governing body for Gaza and the West Bank, opposing any moves that undermine the two-state solution. UN data indicates a sharp rise in settler violence this year, with over 1,200 incidents recorded since January, displacing Palestinian communities and complicating Gaza ceasefire efforts. French President Emmanuel Macron, in a meeting with PA President Mahmoud Abbas earlier this month, reiterated commitments to sanction violent settlers, including entry bans to EU territory. Human rights groups report that such attacks have caused millions in agricultural losses during the 2025 olive harvest, exacerbating economic hardships.
In southern Lebanon, Confavreux voiced "strong concern" over intensified Israeli strikes, which have killed at least 15 civilians since early November, in breach of the November 27, 2024, ceasefire brokered by the U.S. and France. "We condemn the Israeli strikes that are killing civilians," he said, urging full implementation of the truce and respect for commitments by all parties. The agreement, ending a 14-month conflict that displaced over 1.2 million Lebanese, mandates Israeli withdrawal from five hilltops and Hezbollah's retreat south of the Litani River, monitored by UNIFIL.
France remains "fully engaged" in the U.S.-led monitoring mechanism and contributes 700 troops to UNIFIL, the UN's longest-running peacekeeping mission. Recent strikes in Chehour and Tayr Filsay, following evacuation warnings, have prompted Lebanese President Joseph Aoun to demand accountability from ceasefire guarantors. Looking forward, Confavreux reaffirmed support for the Lebanese government's September 5, 2025, plan to disarm Hezbollah and deploy the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) across the south. The cabinet "welcomed" the LAF's roadmap, which aims to consolidate state monopoly on arms by year's end, backed by a U.S. $230 million aid package. Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem has resisted, warning of "civil war," but U.S. envoys see the militia's post-war weakening as an opportunity for diplomacy. France has pledged backing for a Saudi-led conference to bolster LAF capabilities, potentially including air defense systems, as UNIFIL's mandate nears renewal.
On Iran's nuclear program, Confavreux urged Tehran to "urgently" resume full compliance with IAEA monitoring, calling the situation "extremely worrying." The IAEA has lost "continuity of knowledge" on Iran's nuclear materials since inspectors were expelled amid June 2025 Israeli-U.S. strikes on facilities like Fordow and Natanz. France, with E3 partners (Germany, UK) and the U.S., triggered the JCPOA's snapback mechanism in August, reinstating pre-2015 UN sanctions—including an arms embargo—after Iran's uranium stockpile exceeded limits by 45 times.
"We continue to keep the door open to dialogue," Confavreux stressed, despite Tehran's defiant recall of ambassadors and threats to exit the NPT. The E3 offered a six-month sanctions delay for IAEA access and U.S. talks, but Iran rejected it, citing Western "aggression." IAEA Director Rafael Grossi warned last week that unresolved issues could lead to weapons-grade enrichment, heightening proliferation risks.
France's briefing underscores Paris's role as a key mediator, balancing criticism of Israel with calls for Iranian restraint. As winter approaches, with Syria's transition teetering and Lebanon's disarmament looming, Confavreux concluded: "The region stands at a crossroads—peace or peril." Diplomatic sources indicate upcoming E3-Iran talks in Geneva, potentially averting further escalation.
