Syrian delegation engages in renewed US-mediated talks with Israel

A Syrian government source has confirmed that a Syrian delegation, led by Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani and Head of the General Intelligence Apparatus Hussein al-Salameh, is participating in the current round of negotiations with Israeli officials under US coordination and mediation.

The source, speaking to SANA, emphasized that the resumption of the talks underscores Syria’s steadfast commitment to restoring its “non-negotiable national rights.”

According to the source, the discussions are primarily focused on reactivating the 1974 Disengagement Agreement, with the objective of ensuring the withdrawal of Israeli forces to the positions held prior to December 8, 2024. The talks aim to establish a reciprocal security framework that “prioritizes full Syrian sovereignty and guarantees the prevention of any form of interference in Syria’s internal affairs.”

There was no immediate response from Israel or the United States regarding the report.

On January 4, the US news website Axios reported that senior Israeli and Syrian officials are scheduled to meet in Paris on January 5, under US mediation, to resume negotiations in hopes of reaching a new security agreement. Citing an Israeli official, the report noted that the Biden administration is pressing both Israel and Syria for a deal that would stabilize the security situation along their shared border, “and potentially be the first step toward future diplomatic normalization.”

The current talks mark the first meeting between the two sides in approximately two months and constitute the fifth round of negotiations. The Israeli military has conducted repeated incursions into Syrian territory since the fall of the Assad regime in late 2024, actions that Damascus has consistently condemned.

By Vafa Guliyeva