France’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Pascal Confavreux said France stands by Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, but stressed that this backing is not unconditional. He said France’s continued engagement is tied to a peaceful, orderly transition that respects all components of Syrian society, with accountability for violence among several issues raised in talks with Syrian authorities.
He said the lifting of sanctions does not rule out the possibility of measures being reinstated, adding that accountability for violence, including against Alawites and Druze, remains an essential point of attention in France’s discussions with Syrian authorities.
Speaking to Syrian journalists in Paris, in a briefing attended by Enab Baladi on Tuesday, February 10, Confavreux said France’s message to al-Sharaa was that Damascus should demonstrate that it is conducting investigations to identify those responsible for the violence and refer them to the judiciary.
He also noted that European measures can target individuals responsible for serious violations.
At the same time, Confavreux said he believes the Syrian government has made progress on this issue.
The coast and Suwayda
Violence took place in Syria in the months following the fall of the former regime, taking on a sectarian character, particularly on the Syrian coast (western Syria) and in Suwayda governorate (southern Syria).
On the coast, the events erupted on July 6, 2025, following mobilization by former regime elements met by convoys of armed men loyal to the government.
These developments led to clashes and retaliatory attacks, with around 2,500 people killed, both military personnel and civilians, according to government and UN estimates.
In Suwayda, events took place on July 13, 2025, after clashes between local factions loyal to the Druze spiritual leader Hikmat al-Hijri and Bedouin tribes living in the governorate.
The government intervened, saying it aimed to separate the two sides, but the intervention was accompanied by violations against Druze civilians. This prompted al-Hijri to appeal for Israeli intervention, which intervened in support of.
The Israeli intervention led to government forces withdrawing from the city and positioning on its outskirts. However, the withdrawal was followed by retaliatory violence targeting Bedouin families. This was followed by tribal mobilization, which ultimately ended with a ceasefire agreement between the two sides.
Damascus, Paris
Paris has repeatedly condemned these violent acts and contributed to the inclusion of government figures on European sanctions lists, most notably two brigadier generals in the Syrian army, Mohammad al-Jassem (“Abu Amsha”) and Sayf Bulad (“Abu Bakr”).
French President Emmanuel Macron said, during a phone call with al-Sharaa, that the recent violence in Syria is a reminder of the extreme fragility of the transitional phase.
In the call on July 26, 2025, Macron wrote on his account on X, it is necessary to protect civilian populations.
“It is urgent to avoid a repetition of the scenes of violence, and it is necessary to hold those responsible accountable,” Macron said. He added that he expects legal proceedings to begin based on the report issued by the independent committee.
Macron calls for support for Syria to overcome challenges… Al-Sharaa optimistic
Meanwhile, relations between Damascus and Paris have seen a notable improvement since the fall of the former regime. France was al-Sharaa’s first European destination.
The visit took place on May 7, 2025, and in return al-Sharaa invited Macron to visit Syria.
Since the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime on December 8, 2024, France has led efforts to open channels of communication and establish relations with Syria’s new administration. France’s foreign minister was the first European minister to visit Damascus, accompanied by former German foreign minister Annalena Baerbock, on January 3, 2025.
Al-Sharaa’s visit to France: A European gateway towards Damascus