Media: Israel, Jordan hold secret talks to address Syria’s instability

On December 13, Israel and Jordan held secret discussions to address shared security concerns regarding the ongoing situation in Syria, according to three unnamed Israeli officials.

The collapse of Bashar al-Assad’s regime has left Syria in a fragile state, with a chemical weapons stockpile and numerous armed rebel factions, including Islamist groups formerly aligned with Al-Qaeda, Caliber.Az reports via Axios.

Israeli forces have been striking military sites across Syria and recently seized an area in the Golan Heights on the Syrian side of the border. The Syrian mission to the United Nations has denounced this action, calling it a violation of Syria's sovereignty.

Both Israel and Jordan, which shares a border with Syria, have emphasized the importance of cooperating on security issues in the region. Jordan plays a pivotal role as a mediator between Israel and various Syrian rebel groups, including Hayʼat Tahrir ash-Sham (HTS), the Sunni Islamist faction that led the revolution against Assad’s regime. An Israeli official confirmed this development.

On December 13, the director of Israel’s Shin Bet security agency and senior Israel Defense Forces (IDF) officers met with Ahmad Husni, the director of Jordan’s general intelligence service, and high-ranking Jordanian military commanders. According to the officials, discussions revolved around Syria’s unstable situation, as well as the growing involvement of rebel groups in forming a transitional government.

Additionally, the officials raised concerns over the increasing threat of weapons smuggling by Iran through Jordan to armed groups in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, a situation that could potentially escalate violence in the region.

Over the past 10 days, Israel has intensified its military presence in Syria. Israeli forces have occupied Syrian territory within a buffer zone established after the Yom Kippur War, including several strategic locations like the Syrian military outpost on Mount Hermon, the highest point in the region.

The IDF has conducted nearly 500 airstrikes on Syrian military targets, destroying much of Syria’s Air Force, Navy, air defence systems, and missile stockpiles. Israeli strikes also targeted sites associated with Syria’s former chemical weapons program, aiming to prevent these weapons from falling into the hands of terrorist groups.

On December 12, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu informed White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan that the IDF will "temporarily" maintain control of the border area in Syria until an effective force is established to enforce the 1974 Separation of Forces Agreement, which created a "zone of separation" between Israel and Syria. Senior Israeli officials have indicated that the IDF’s presence in the buffer zone may continue for several months, if not longer.

In response, the Syrian mission to the United Nations sent a letter to the UN Security Council on December 9, which was made public four days later. The Syrian ambassador condemned the Israeli actions, calling them "an escalation of ongoing aggression on the territory of the Syrian Arab Republic."

The letter emphasized that the Israeli occupation of the buffer zone and the airstrikes violated both the 1974 Disengagement Agreement and Syria’s sovereignty. "Syria renews its call on the United Nations and the Security Council to assume their responsibilities and take firm measures to compel Israel to immediately cease its ongoing attacks on Syrian territory," the letter stated.

On December 14, HTS leader Ahmad al-Shara also commented on Israel’s actions for the first time, describing them as "an unjustified escalation." He argued that Israel had no reason to cross the disengagement line, particularly given that Iran is no longer present in Syria and Assad is no longer in a position to use Syria as a launchpad for attacks.

"After years of war, we can't afford getting into new conflicts. The top priority is reconstruction and stability and not getting dragged into conflicts that will bring more destruction," al-Shara stated.

He called on the international community to intervene and pressure Israel to respect Syria’s sovereignty.

By Khagan Isayev