A meeting focused on reducing tensions between Syria and Israel was held in Jordan on Sunday. The talks took place at Damascus’s request, with U.S. mediation, following Israeli strikes on Syrian territory last week. Jordan expressed support for the Syrian government and called for an immediate end to the attacks, the withdrawal of Israeli forces from occupied Syrian lands, and compliance with the 1974 disengagement agreement.
According to Syria’s state news agency, the Syrian delegation was led by Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani and also included the heads of general and military intelligence. They met with senior Israeli officials. The discussions covered practical mechanisms for ending strikes, arrests, and operations against Syrian facilities, as well as resuming negotiations on a security agreement that could serve as the basis for a broader settlement.
The Syrian side stressed that Syria is a sovereign state with the right to rebuild and develop its national army and independently choose its partners and allies. Damascus rejected any arrangements that would restrict its sovereignty or threaten its territorial integrity, and reiterated that the Golan Heights are Syrian land. At the same time, the discussion of their final status was considered premature: the immediate priorities were identified as the withdrawal of Israeli forces to the lines that existed before December 8, 2024, and the full restoration of the 1974 agreement.
The participants also discussed strengthening stability in Syria and the region, including efforts to reduce tensions between Turkey and Israel so that their confrontation would not spill over into Syrian territory. Damascus said that any security measures must take Syria’s sovereignty and unity into account. According to Axios, the meeting was attended by al-Shaibani and the head of Israel’s foreign intelligence service, Mossad, Roman Gofman. Israeli sources described the talks as positive and successful.
Direct contacts between Damascus and Tel Aviv, according to al-Shaibani, were suspended after Israel struck the Abu al-Zuhur air base. On Tuesday, Israel carried out eight strikes on the base’s runway in the eastern part of Idlib province. The Syrian authorities called this unjustified aggression and a violation of the country’s sovereignty. The government of Benjamin Netanyahu claimed that Syria had allegedly been preparing to violate the understandings by allowing Turkish forces to deploy at a base near Aleppo; Turkey called the explanation a false pretext for illegal attacks.
Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa previously said that Damascus, with the participation of several countries, was working on a security agreement with Israel. According to him, the success of these efforts could pave the way for comprehensive peace, but should not mean that Syria gives up its rights to the occupied Golan Heights. Israel has controlled most of the Golan since 1967, and after the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime in late 2024, it announced the termination of the 1974 disengagement agreement and occupied the buffer zone, as well as a number of Syrian positions, including the Syrian side of Mount Hermon.
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How is the buffer zone created by the 1974 disengagement agreement organized, and what role do the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) play in monitoring it? — The 1974 agreement created a Zone of Separation between Israeli and Syrian forces, where armed forces are not supposed to be stationed, as well as zones on either side with restrictions on the number of troops and types of weapons. UNDOF patrols the area, verifies compliance with the agreement, and reports to the UN Security Council. The mission’s mandate does not include peace enforcement: the safety of its personnel depends on the consent of the parties and the overall security situation.
Why is the Abu al-Zuhur air base in Idlib province strategically important for the possible deployment of Turkish forces and for the security of northern Syria? — The air base is located in central Idlib and could serve as a hub for surveillance, supply, and the deployment of forces in northwestern Syria. Its use would allow Turkey to respond more quickly to threats along the border and support allied formations. However, the base was damaged during the war, and its operation depends on political agreements, the condition of its infrastructure, and the consent of other influential parties to the conflict; its importance alone does not mean that the deployment of Turkish forces is guaranteed.
How do international law and the UN position determine the status of the Golan Heights, which Israel has controlled since 1967 and whose annexation most countries do not recognize? — Under UN Security Council Resolution 497, Israel’s decision to impose its laws and administration on the Golan Heights is considered null and void and without international legal effect. Most countries regard the territory as occupied Syrian land and do not recognize its annexation. Israel controls the Golan and says it is essential to its security, while the UN and most countries maintain that the territory’s final status must be determined through negotiations and that changing borders by force is impermissible.
Full version: With U.S. Mediation, Syria Reveals Details of Its Delegation’s Meeting with Israeli Officials in Jordan