Syria, Israel Hold US-Mediated Talks to Ease Tensions, Syria News Agency Says

On Sunday, Syria and Israel hosted U.S.-mediated talks at a Jordanian location to alleviate the recent tensions stemming from Israeli airstrikes on Syrian territory, according to Syria’s state news agency SANA. The discussions centered on implementing practical measures to prevent such strikes, the arrest of officials, and targeted operations, and on restoring negotiations toward a security agreement that could pave the way for a larger future pact.

The two parties also deliberated on resolving the ongoing tensions between Israel and Turkey, aiming to avert any conflicts from crossing into Syria’s borders.

Syria’s Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani had previously stated to Reuters on Saturday that Damascus anticipated the resumption of security negotiations with Israel, despite acknowledging the existing lack of trust between the two nations. Following the start of the Iran war, talks between the countries had been on hold, and Syria entirely cut off its communications with Israel after Israeli strikes on Syria’s Abu al-Duhur airbase last week, according to Shaibani.

United States has been actively involved in brokering a security agreement between Israel and the government of Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa for over a year. Shaibani disclosed that both sides had agreed on paper to almost every aspect of the agreement, including the establishment of security zones in southern Syria and a buffer zone where only United Nations forces would be present. However, Damascus harbored doubts about Israel’s commitment to implementing the pact.

At the meeting, Syria expressed its primary objectives as an Israeli withdrawal to positions prior to the fall of Bashar al-Assad on December 8, 2024, and a complete restoration of the 1974 disengagement agreement. The Syrian delegation also conveyed its unwillingness to accept any restrictions on rebuilding and developing its armed forces or determining its alliances and partnerships, according to SANA.

Syria reiterated that the Golan Heights, currently occupied by Israel, remains Syrian territory, though discussions on the region’s final status were deemed premature, as reported by SANA.

It should be noted that Israel has conducted frequent strikes on Syrian military sites since the end of Bashar al-Assad’s rule on December 8, 2024, citing the necessity to protect its security. Syria, on the other hand, has refuted the notion of posing a threat to Israel and has demanded an immediate cessation of Israeli strikes and incursions.

The two nations have been technically in a state of war since 1948, with Israel capturing the Golan Heights from Syria during the 1967 Six-Day War and subsequently annexing it, a claim recognized by the United States but not by many other countries.