According to a report by the Syrian National News Agency (SANA) on August 23, a diplomatic source revealed that the senior delegation led by Syriac Arab Republic's Foreign Minister Shibani met with a senior delegation from Jordan and Israel. The meeting was aimed at easing tensions between the two countries and supporting stability in Syria and the region.
The Syrian side did not disclose the members of the Israeli delegation, but Israel Channel 12 reported that the Israeli delegation was led by Gofman, the head of the Israel Intelligence and Secret Services (Mossad). This meeting took place under the mediation of the United States, with the U.S. government hoping to ease tensions between Israel, Syria, and Turkey before the upcoming Israeli parliamentary elections.
The talks focused on establishing practical mechanisms to prevent Israel from carrying out aerial attacks and other military operations in southern Syria again. Both parties also discussed the possibility of resuming negotiations in order to reach a security agreement that would serve as the basis for a comprehensive future agreement.
On August 18th, local time, the Abou Zuhur Air Base in Syria was attacked by Israel. IC photo
SANA stated that Syria reiterated its position, emphasizing that the occupied Golan Heights are Syrian territory. It demanded that Israeli forces withdraw to the border lines as of December 8, 2024, and restore the Agreement on Disengagement of Forces signed between Syria and Israel in 1974.
Sources from Israel's security authorities revealed that Israel has set several "red lines", including keeping the Syrian side of the Golan Heights as a non-military zone, not allowing Syrian military forces to possess strategic weapon systems, and Israel will only withdraw its troops if diplomacy leads to results.
Before the talks began, Shebani said that Syria hoped to establish stable relations with Israel. He urged Israel to seize the “historic opportunity” and resume diplomatic negotiations between the two countries.
Hibbani said, “We believe that contact should be maintained, especially with a country that continues to pose a threat to Syria’s security. But if this contact yields no results, then we don’t need it anymore. For now, we do not trust Israel.” He added that the Syrian transitional government seeks “understanding, peace, and diplomacy,” committed to restoring regional stability.
After the dramatic changes in the Syrian political situation in December 2024, the Israeli army occupied the Golan Heights military buffer zone and the strategic mountain of Hermon, aiming to “fully de-militarize” several provinces in southern Syria. This move has drawn condemnation from the international community. According to The Israel Times, the Israeli army has established nine bases in southern Syria, with the purpose of “protecting Israel’s own security”.
Since then, Israel has carried out several airstrikes on targets within Syria, exacerbating regional tensions. On August 18th, the Israeli military conducted an airstrike on the Abou Zuhur Air Base in Idlib Province, northwestern Syria. The Syrian Transitional Government's Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned this action harshly, calling it an "unjustified aggression."
