Axios: Netanyahu asks US to mediate talks with Syria's new government

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has asked the United States to mediate negotiations with Syria's new government, signalling a significant potential shift in the region's dynamics, two senior Israeli officials said.

Netanyahu conveyed this message during a meeting last week with U.S. envoy Tom Barrack, a longtime confidant of President Donald Trump, Caliber.Az reports, citing Axios.

According to the officials, Netanyahu is interested in negotiating a new security agreement with Damascus as a foundation for broader normalization—possibly leading to a full peace treaty. If realized, these talks would mark the first official engagement between Israel and Syria since 2011, and come against the backdrop of Syria's dramatic political transition.

After former Islamist militant Ahmad al-Sharaa ousted the Assad regime, Israel responded with sweeping airstrikes that dismantled Syria’s remaining military infrastructure, including its air force, navy, air defense systems, and missile capabilities. Israel also took control of parts of the buffer zone and pushed into Syrian territory, citing national security concerns.

The Israeli government has been deeply wary of the al-Sharaa government, particularly due to its ties with Türkiye. In the months following the regime change, Israel urged the Trump administration to tread cautiously. However, Jerusalem was caught off guard last month when Trump met al-Sharaa in Saudi Arabia and announced the complete lifting of U.S. sanctions on Syria.

Despite initial scepticism, Israeli officials now see opportunity in the evolving geopolitical landscape. With Iranian and Hezbollah forces no longer present in Syria, and with al-Sharaa showing signs of independence from Ankara, Israel has begun reassessing its stance. Secret contacts began through intermediaries and eventually progressed to direct meetings in third countries.

“Al-Sharaa is more pragmatic than we thought and doesn’t appear to be following Turkish directives,” one senior Israeli official said. “It’s in our interest if the Syrian government aligns more closely with the U.S. and Saudi Arabia.”

During his visit to Israel last week, Barrack met with Netanyahu and other top officials. He was taken to the Golan Heights and the Syrian side of Mount Hermon—areas now under Israeli control since the collapse of Assad's forces. Just days earlier, Barrack had been in Damascus where he met al-Sharaa and oversaw the reopening of the U.S. ambassador’s residence. He described the conflict between Israel and Syria as “a solvable problem” and proposed starting with a non-aggression pact.

By Khagan Isayev