Israeli, Syrian ministers to hold security talks in Baku amid southern Syria tensions

Israeli and Syrian officials are set to meet in Baku, Azerbaijan, on July 31 to discuss the escalating security situation in southern Syria, a diplomatic source confirmed.

The high-level meeting will bring together Israel’s Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer and Syria’s Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani, the source confirmed, noting that discussions will center on “the security situation, particularly in southern Syria.” The diplomat, speaking on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the talks, declined to provide further details, Caliber.Az reports, citing Israeli media.

The meeting follows recent violence in Syria’s southern Sweida province, where clashes between Druze and Bedouin militias resulted in multiple casualties, including the death of a US citizen. The conflict has raised renewed international concern about regional stability and the risk of broader escalation.

Dermer and al-Shaibani previously met last week in Paris alongside US Special Envoy to Syria Tom Barrack to address the deteriorating situation. Although no final agreement was reached during those US-mediated discussions, both sides reportedly expressed willingness to continue the dialogue.

State-run Syrian broadcaster confirmed the upcoming meeting in Baku, quoting a diplomatic source who described the previous discussions as “honest and responsible.” This marks the first official acknowledgment from the Syrian side that such talks have taken place.

US envoy Tom Barrack publicly stated that both delegations had “spoken about de-escalating the situation in Syria” during the Paris discussions, signaling ongoing US involvement in efforts to manage tensions in the region.

By Vafa Guliyeva