Damascus: Syrian media reported Monday that a government delegation is engaging in a new series of negotiations with Israel, facilitated and mediated by the United States. A government source informed the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) that the delegation is led by Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani and intelligence chief Hussein al-Salama.
According to Anadolu Agency - English, the discussions focus on the reactivation of the 1974 Disengagement Agreement, aiming to secure the withdrawal of Israeli forces to positions held before December 8, 2024. The source emphasized Syria's commitment to reclaiming its non-negotiable national rights, stating that the talks are part of a reciprocal security agreement prioritizing Syrian sovereignty and preventing interference in internal affairs.
Israeli government spokeswoman Shosh Bedrosian mentioned that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is interested in establishing peaceful borders with Syria but declined to provide details about the talks or Israel's readiness to withdraw from the seized buffer zone areas. Netanyahu highlighted the importance of protecting religious minorities in Syria, specifically mentioning the Druze and Christian communities.
The US has not commented on the report. On Sunday, Axios reported that senior Israeli and Syrian officials were scheduled to meet in Paris, with US mediation, to resume negotiations aimed at reaching a new security agreement. The Trump administration reportedly encourages both sides to stabilize their border security, potentially paving the way for future diplomatic normalization.
The current discussions mark the first meeting between the two countries in approximately two months and are the fifth round of negotiations. Since the fall of the Bashar al-Assad regime in late 2024, the Israeli army has repeatedly entered Syrian territory, actions that Damascus has condemned.