[UPDATED] Syria, Israel hold US-mediated talks to ease tensions

DAMASCUS, Syria - Syria and Israel convened high-level talks mediated by the United States in Jordan on Sunday, as reported by Syria's state news agency SANA. The discussions aimed to alleviate tensions sparked by recent Israeli strikes on Syrian territory. The talks centered on devising practical measures to cease Israeli strikes, arrests, and targeted operations, as well as resuming negotiations for a security agreement that could pave the way for a broader pact, according to SANA.

The two nations also deliberated on mitigating tensions between Israel and Turkey, preventing their rivalry from escalating onto Syrian soil. Syria's Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani remarked to Reuters on Saturday that Damascus anticipated the resumption of security negotiations with Israel soon, though he acknowledged the existing lack of trust between the two countries.

The talks had been suspended since the onset of the Iran war; Syria ceased all communication with Israel following Israeli strikes on Syria's Abu al-Duhur airbase last week, as per Shaibani.

Since the previous year, the United States has endeavored to facilitate a security agreement between Israel and the Syrian government led by President Ahmed al-Sharaa. Shaibani stated that the two sides agreed on paper to nearly all aspects of the agreement in early 2024, including provisions for security zones in southern Syria and a buffer zone solely for United Nations forces.

However, Syria harbored doubts about Israel's commitment to implementing the agreement. The Israeli prime minister's office declined to comment on Shaibani's assertions.

During the Sunday meeting, Syria expressed its primary objectives as an Israeli withdrawal to pre-Bashar al-Assad positions and the comprehensive restoration of the 1974 disengagement agreement, according to SANA. Damascus also conveyed to the Israeli delegation that it would not acquiesce to limitations on rebuilding and developing its armed forces or on its ability to determine alliances and partnerships, SANA reported.

Syria reiterated that the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights are Syrian territory, but deemed discussions on the region's final status premature, as per the SANA report.

It is important to note that Israel has launched recurrent strikes on Syrian military installations since Assad's fall, asserting that such actions are necessary to safeguard its security. Conversely, Syria has contested Syria's threat to Israel and demanded the cessation of Israeli strikes and incursions. Since 1948, Syria and Israel have been in a state of war, with Israel's capture and later annexation of the Golan Heights in the 1967 Six-Day War, an action recognized by the United States but not by the majority of the international community.