- Damascus Seeks Israeli Withdrawal, Restoration of 1974 Disengagement Agreement as Washington Pushes for Security Deal
AMMAN: Syria and Israel held high-level, United States-mediated talks in Jordan on Sunday aimed at reducing escalating tensions following a series of Israeli strikes on Syrian territory, Syria’s state news agency SANA reported, citing a diplomatic source in the Syrian Foreign Ministry.
According to SANA, the discussions focused on practical mechanisms to halt Israeli airstrikes, arrests and targeted operations in Syria, while also exploring ways to revive negotiations on a security agreement that could eventually pave the way for a broader understanding between the two countries.
The two sides also addressed efforts to ease growing tensions between Israel and Türkiye and prevent their rivalry from spilling over into Syrian territory.
Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Al-Shaibani told Reuters on Saturday that Damascus expected security negotiations with Israel to resume soon, while acknowledging that a significant lack of trust remained between the two sides.
Talks Suspended Amid Regional Conflict
The security dialogue had been suspended following the outbreak of the Iran war, while Syria subsequently severed contacts with Israel after Israeli strikes targeted the Abu Al-Duhur air base in Syria last week, Shaibani said.
Washington has been working for more than a year to broker a security agreement between Israel and the government of Syrian President Ahmed Al-Sharaa, seeking arrangements that could reduce the risk of further military confrontation along the two countries’ border.
Shaibani said earlier that the two sides had reached preliminary agreement on “almost everything” at the beginning of the year, including proposed security zones in southern Syria and a buffer zone that would be restricted to United Nations forces.
However, he said Damascus remained skeptical about Israel’s willingness to fully implement the understandings.
The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Shaibani’s remarks.
Damascus Demands Israeli Withdrawal
SANA reported that during Sunday’s meeting, Syria reiterated that its immediate priorities included an Israeli withdrawal to positions held before the overthrow of President Bashar al-Assad on December 8, 2024, as well as the full restoration of the 1974 Disengagement Agreement between Syria and Israel.
Damascus also made clear that it would not accept arrangements restricting Syria’s right to rebuild and develop its armed forces or independently determine its alliances and international partnerships, according to SANA.
Syria further reaffirmed its position that the Golan Heights are Syrian territory, while indicating that discussions over the territory’s final status would be premature at this stage.
Israel Cites Security Concerns
Israel has conducted repeated strikes against Syrian military installations since Assad’s fall, arguing that the operations are necessary to protect Israeli security and prevent potential threats from emerging along its northern border.
Syria has rejected those claims, maintaining that it poses no threat to Israel and calling for an end to Israeli airstrikes, military incursions and territorial violations.
The latest talks come against the backdrop of decades of hostility between the two countries. Syria and Israel have technically remained in a state of war since 1948. Israel captured the strategically important Golan Heights from Syria during the 1967 Six-Day War and later annexed the territory.
The United States formally recognized Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights in 2019, while the move remains unrecognized by most of the international community.
BY: The Times Union
