Syria and Israel engage in first direct talks since fall of al-Assad regime
In a historic move, Syria and Israel have come together for their first acknowledged direct talks since the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime. Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani met with an Israeli delegation in US-brokered discussions aimed at de-escalating regional tensions.
The discussions focused on restoring a 1974 ceasefire agreement, which had established a buffer zone between the two countries, as reported by Syria’s state-run news agency SANA.
Although official details of the talks were not disclosed by Syrian or Israeli officials, a senior Trump administration official confirmed the meeting. The US has been pushing for normalized relations between the two countries in line with President Donald Trump’s vision of a “prosperous Middle East.”
According to the official, the US continues to support efforts that will bring lasting stability and peace between Israel and its neighbors, including Syria. They emphasized the importance of achieving peace in the region.
This meeting signifies a significant step as it is the first time Syria has acknowledged engaging in direct talks with Israel. Tensions between the two countries heightened following the fall of al-Assad in December.
Following the overthrow of the former regime, Israeli troops took control of the UN-patrolled buffer zone established under the 1974 ceasefire deal. Israel conducted airstrikes on military sites to prevent hostile forces from establishing themselves, aiming to create a demilitarized zone south of Damascus.
Recent interventions by Israel, including airstrikes in Syria’s Suwayda province during clashes between Bedouin clans and the Druze minority, have further escalated tensions. Israel stated that its actions were aimed at protecting the Druze community, some of whom reside in Israel. – Euronews
