US Special Envoy to the Middle East, Steven Witkoff, indicated that "normalization of relations between Lebanon, Syria, and Israel has become a real possibility." Speaking about Abu Mohammed al-Julani, who heads Hayat Tahrir al-Sham and currently heads the Syrian government, despite the group remaining on the US terrorist list, he said, "Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa has changed from what he was."

In his interview with journalist Tucker Carlson, Witkoff stated, "I believe that Lebanon is capable of normalizing relations with Israel, literally by signing a peace treaty between the two countries. It is indeed possible. The same applies to Syria."

Witkoff noted that Shara has evolved over time, saying, "People change. You're a completely different person at 55 than you were at 35. I personally realize that at 68, I'm not the same person I was 30 years ago. Ahmed Shara, formerly known as Abu Mohammed al-Julani in Syria, is probably a different person now. They've kicked Iran out of there."

Witkoff emphasized that normalizing relations between Lebanon and Israel, and then Syria and Israel, could be part of a broader effort to achieve peace in the region. He added, "Imagine if Lebanon normalized relations with Israel, then Syria did the same, and Saudi Arabia signed a normalization agreement with Israel after achieving peace in Gaza. This would be a prerequisite for normalization with Saudi Arabia."

He stressed that such steps could lead to the formation of an alliance among the Gulf states to work together to ensure regional stability.