UPDATE: In a surprising move, former President Donald Trump has revealed plans to develop a luxury ski resort in war-torn Syria, aiming to ease ongoing tensions between Israel and its Arab neighbors. This bold initiative, reportedly backed by the White House, proposes a lavish vacation destination in a disputed region currently occupied by Israeli troops.
The ambitious project includes not only the ski resort but also a new economic zone featuring power projects, oil pipelines, and data centers. The mega-development is poised to rise in a region previously demilitarized, pending the withdrawal of Israeli forces, while still ensuring the security guarantees that Israel insists upon.
Details about the location remain unclear, but sources indicate that the ski slopes could be situated on Mount Hermon, a strategic peak in southern Syria that Israel uses for military surveillance and troop training. Following the ousting of Bashar al-Assad in December 2024, Israeli forces advanced several miles into Syrian territory on the contested Golan Heights.
Insider reports suggest that the new Syrian leadership, headed by former al-Qaeda fighter Ahmed al-Sharaa, is supportive of the proposal, which also aims to foster peace with Israel. However, al-Sharaa has demanded that Israeli forces vacate Syrian territory, a condition that could complicate the project’s feasibility. In response, Israel has fortified its positions, emphasizing the need to protect the local Druze community from potential threats.
Recent diplomatic efforts have intensified following a meeting between Israeli and Syrian officials in Paris, facilitated by US intermediaries. An American official stated, “This economic zone will include wind farms, agriculture, and the best ski mountain in the Middle East, alongside the hospitable Druze community.”
This development echoes Trump’s earlier vision for a demilitarized economic zone in Ukraine’s Donbas region, aimed at resolving conflicts with Russia. The announcement of the ski resort coincides with an agreement between Israel and Syria to enhance intelligence sharing, dubbed a “joint-fusion mechanism.” This US-run initiative could be established in Amman, Jordan, to monitor southern Syrian activities, particularly after violent sectarian clashes in Sweida province last year that resulted in numerous casualties.
The US State Department has expressed its support for the recent diplomatic strides, stating, “The United States commends these positive steps and remains committed to supporting the implementation of these understandings, as part of broader efforts to achieve enduring peace in the Middle East.”
Following last month’s US airstrikes in Syria, which killed at least 70 Islamic State targets, the stakes remain high. The Pentagon confirmed that the coordinated attack involved more than 100 precision munitions and was aimed at crippling ISIS infrastructure across central Syria.
The unfolding scenario in Syria presents both challenges and opportunities, as the Trump administration seeks to capitalize on the shifting political landscape. As the details of the ski resort plan emerge, it is crucial to monitor how these developments influence the fragile geopolitical balance in the region.
As tensions persist, the global community watches closely, eager to see whether Trump’s vision will come to fruition and what impact it may have on both regional stability and the lives of those living in the area.
