Syria, Israel to hold security talks in Baku on September 18

A high-level meeting on security matters between representatives of Syria and Israel is scheduled to take place in Baku on September 18, Sky News Arabia has reported.

The talks come amid ongoing discussions over an Israeli proposal for a security agreement aimed at reshaping military and security arrangements in southwest Syria.

According to Axios, the plan is modelled on the 1979 Egypt-Israel peace treaty, which divided the Sinai Peninsula into three demilitarised zones with varying levels of military presence.

The draft agreement, presented to Syria several weeks ago, outlines a map covering the area from Damascus southwest to the Israeli border. The territory would be divided into three zones, each allowing different levels of Syrian military presence and types of weaponry.

Key provisions include:

• Expansion of the existing buffer zone by two kilometres on the Syrian side.

• A prohibition on Syrian military forces and heavy weapons in the strip closest to the Israeli border, though police and internal security forces would be permitted.

• Designation of the entire area between southwest Damascus and the Israeli border as a no-fly zone for Syrian aircraft.

In return, Israel has proposed a phased withdrawal from Syrian territories it captured in recent months, while maintaining control of a forward position on the strategic Mount Hermon (Jabal al-Sheikh).

A source told Axios that one of the fundamental principles of the Israeli plan is to preserve an air corridor through Syria toward Iran, allowing Israel to retain the option of conducting strikes against Iranian targets in the future.

Damascus has yet to officially respond to the proposal. However, according to reports, Syrian officials are drafting a counterproposal. Their plan would require Israel to withdraw from recently seized territories, reinstate the demilitarised buffer zone agreed under the 1974 ceasefire, and halt Israeli airstrikes and ground incursions into Syria.

Ahead of the Baku meeting, the issue is also expected to be discussed on September 17 in London during a trilateral meeting involving Israeli Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer, Syrian Foreign Minister Asad al-Shaibani, and US envoy Tom Barrack, who has been mediating between the two countries. This will be the third meeting of its kind.

By Tamilla Hasanova