{
  "id": 2890544,
  "title": "Syria holds talks with Israel addressing de-escalation and Israel-Turkey tensions",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/23/syria-holds-talks-with-israel-addressing-de-escalation-and-israel",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-23T23:04:18.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "South China Morning Post",
    "slug": "south-china-morning-post",
    "url": "https://www.scmp.com/news/world/middle-east/article/3364997/syria-holds-talks-israel-addressing-de-escalation-and-israel-turkey-tensions"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Syria engaged in high-level talks with Israel in Jordan on Sunday, focusing on de-escalation and preventing tensions between Israel and Turkey, a close ally of Syria. These negotiations followed January's agreement to establish an intelligence-sharing mechanism and an impending security agreement. Israel had recently bombed a disused airbase in northwest Syria, alleging it aimed to prevent Turkish troops from deploying there. Syrian state news agency SANA reported a delegation led by the foreign minister met a high-level Israeli delegation under American mediation and hosted by Jordan. Discussions aimed to foster cooperation between Turkey and Israel, preventing any regional tension from spilling over into Syria. The talks also addressed establishing a special operations room in Jordan under US supervision to thwart potential conflicts, including those involving Turkey. US envoy Tom Barrack denounced Israel's attack on the airbase as an \"unnecessary escalation,\" while Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and Turkish President Erdogan have had strained relations since the incident. This marked the first such meeting between Israel and Syria in some time, according to Syrian and diplomatic sources. The discussions centered on setting up practical mechanisms to halt Israeli attacks and reviving negotiations for a security agreement. Israel and Syria's new leadership have held multiple rounds of direct talks since January, leading to the establishment of a communication cell under US supervision. An Arab diplomat in Damascus mentioned a proposed joint operations room in Jordan to handle security coordination and border control. Since the December 2024 overthrow of former Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad, Israel has conducted numerous strikes on Syrian territory, sending troops into a UN-monitored buffer zone on the Golan Heights and repeatedly invading deeper Syrian land. Israel vowed to maintain troops in a security zone in southern Syria, aiming for a broader demilitarized area. These talks also followed an Israeli strike targeting a militant in southern Syria, which left one person wounded and was denounced by Damascus as a \"flagrant violation\" of its sovereignty. Israel has controlled the Golan Heights since the 1967 Arab-Israeli War, annexing the area only recognized by the United States and, recently, Colombia. US President Donald Trump has advocated for a security deal between Syria and Israel, but Israel remains skeptical of Syria's regime.",
  "summary": "Syria said it held talks with Israel in Jordan on Sunday on de-escalation after recent Israeli strikes, and on keeping the country out of tensions between Israel and Turkey, an ally of Damascus. The high-level negotiations came after the sides in January agreed to establish an intelligence-sharing mechanism as they edge towards a security agreement. They also came after Israel bombed the disused…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 10,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Middle East Eye",
        "title": "Syria confirms US-mediated talks with Israel in Jordan to ease tensions",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/23/syria-confirms-us-mediated-talks-with-israel-in-jordan-to-ease",
        "published": "2026-08-23T21:46:21.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Haaretz",
        "title": "Syria tells Israel it won't limit military buildup in security deal talks",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/23/syria-tells-israel-it-wont-limit-military-buildup-in-security-deal",
        "published": "2026-08-23T21:52:13.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "New Straits Times",
        "title": "Syria says Israel talks addressed keeping country out of Israel-Turkiye tensions",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/23/syria-says-israel-talks-addressed-keeping-country-out-of-israel-2883902",
        "published": "2026-08-23T22:19:06.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Gulf News",
        "title": "Syria says Israel talks addressed keeping country out of Israel-Turkey tensions",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/23/syria-says-israel-talks-addressed-keeping-country-out-of-israel",
        "published": "2026-08-23T22:27:32.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Hindustan Times - World News",
        "title": "Syria says Israel talks addressed de-escalation, staying out of Israel-Turkey tensions",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/23/syria-says-israel-talks-addressed-de-escalation-staying-out-of-israel",
        "published": "2026-08-23T22:34:49.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Channel News Asia",
        "title": "Syria, Israel hold US-mediated talks to ease tensions: Report",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/23/syria-israel-hold-us-mediated-talks-to-ease-tensions-report",
        "published": "2026-08-23T23:05:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Al-Monitor",
        "title": "Syria says Israel talks addressed de-escalation, staying out of Israel-Turkey tensions",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/23/syria-says-israel-talks-addressed-de-escalation-staying-out-of-israel-2896323",
        "published": "2026-08-23T23:30:20.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Chronicle Ghana",
        "title": "Syria’s foreign minister says door open for diplomacy with Israel",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/24/syrias-foreign-minister-says-door-open-for-diplomacy-with-israel",
        "published": "2026-08-24T00:24:55.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Japan News by The Yomiuri Shimbun",
        "title": "Syria, Israel Hold US-Mediated Talks to Ease Tensions, Syria News Agency Says",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/24/syria-israel-hold-us-mediated-talks-to-ease-tensions-syria-news",
        "published": "2026-08-24T03:24:49.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}