Syria says Israel talks addressed keeping country out of Israel-Turkey tensions

Syria announced that high-level talks with Israel on Sunday aimed to de-escalate tensions following recent Israeli strikes, while also working to keep Syria neutral in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Turkey, a close ally of Damascus. According to a diplomatic source at Syria's foreign ministry, the discussions took place through US-sponsored talks hosted by Jordan.

The Israeli bombardment of Syrian territory prompted these negotiations, which also focused on bridging the gap between Turkey and Israel's differing perspectives and preventing these tensions from affecting Syria. The backchannel security discussions aimed to maintain Syria's neutrality amidst the escalating regional friction and the competing military ambitions of Israel and Turkey.

The tensions escalated after Israeli airstrikes targeted the Abu al-Duhur Air Base near the Turkish border on August 18, 2026. Israel asserted that the strike was intended to prevent Syria from allowing Turkish forces and air-defense systems to deploy at the base, which the Israelis perceived as a direct threat to their air superiority.

Both Syria and Turkey vehemently denied that the air base was being transformed into a Turkish military installation, stating that the Turkish visits primarily involved general military training. Prior to the airstrike, indirect high-level talks had been ongoing, primarily centered on preserving the security status quo and ensuring Syria's territory would not become a battleground for a direct Israel-Turkey confrontation.

Despite Syria's deep distrust of Israel since the recent bombings, Damascus acknowledged that diplomatic channels and US-backed negotiations are anticipated to continue in an effort to avert any further border escalations.