Al-Shaibani anticipates resumption of security negotiations with Israel despite lack of trust

Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Al-Shaibani stated that Damascus expects negotiations with Israel regarding a security agreement to resume soon, despite a lack of trust between the two sides. He emphasized that Syria's current priority is halting Israeli attacks, with the issues of the agreement and an Israeli withdrawal from Syrian territory to be addressed at a later stage.

In an interview with Reuters, Al-Shaibani explained that negotiations between Damascus and Tel Aviv had stalled following the Iran-Israel conflict, expressing hope that they would resume in the near future to build upon previous progress. He said, "Negotiations were frozen after the Iran-Israel conflict; we hope they will resume soon so we can complete this process."

He noted that communication between the two sides was severed following the Israeli strike on the Abu al-Duhur airbase. While acknowledging that Damascus currently lacks trust in Israel, he stated that they continue to engage through communication channels out of a need to prevent further escalation. "We do not trust Israel at present—while we do engage with them, there is no trust right now," he said, stressing that such communication is meaningless unless it leads to practical results.

Al-Shaibani remarked that Syria views Israel’s repeated attempts to secure its safety through the use of force as having failed to achieve the desired stability. He added that the "door remains open" for a return to diplomacy and that negotiations could resume soon, although no specific date has been set yet.

Regarding the American role, Al-Shaibani explained that Washington is continuously pressuring Israel to return to the negotiating table and reach an understanding with Damascus; however, he expressed caution about the chances of success, stating, "It is very difficult to bet on Israel." He emphasized, nonetheless, that Syria remains deeply committed to establishing stable relations with its neighbors.

He added that Damascus is "extending its hand for understandings, peace, and diplomacy" and seeks regional stability. However, he noted that this requires respect for Syria’s sovereignty and security concerns—just as Israel demands that its own security concerns be taken into account.

Tensions between the two sides resurfaced following Israel's bombing of the Abu al-Duhur airbase; Tel Aviv claimed Damascus was on the verge of allowing the deployment of Turkish forces at the base—a claim denied by both Syria and Turkey. Al-Shaibani stated that Israel had asked Damascus to address its security concerns. He affirmed that Syria is open to this but demands, in return, respect for its own concerns and sovereignty, particularly given Israel's use of Syrian airspace and its conduct of raids and arrests in the south.

Al-Shaibani revealed that, earlier in the year, Damascus and Tel Aviv had reached understandings regarding a security agreement that were virtually finalized on paper. He explained that the draft included several key points, most notably an Israeli commitment to refrain from attacking Syria or interfering in its internal affairs, alongside security arrangements linked to the withdrawal of Israeli forces from territories they had seized following the fall of the Bashar al-Assad regime.

According to Al-Shaibani, the proposed agreement entailed establishing several security zones within Syrian territory near the Israeli border—including a buffer zone where only UN forces would be deployed, alongside other zones featuring Syrian forces with varying troop levels and deployment arrangements. However, he accused Israel of attempting to evade finalizing the agreement, stating that Damascus "found neither the motivation nor the genuine will on their part to reach a deal."

These negotiations take place against the backdrop of a formal state of war that has persisted between Syria and Israel since 1948, while Israel maintains control over the Golan Heights, territory it captured from Syria during the 1967 war.

Al-Shaibani emphasized that Damascus is currently prioritizing a halt to Israeli attacks before addressing more complex political issues—such as peace and the status of the Golan Heights—stating: "Our focus right now is stopping the aggression above all else, even before the security agreement." He added that the files regarding peace and the Golan could be opened at a later stage, noting that "we have taken a step back."

In a related context, US Special Envoy for Syria Thomas Brack stated that Washington is working to establish a mechanism to prevent clashes between Israel, Turkey, and Syria. Al-Shaibani explained that an agreement on this mechanism has not yet been reached, stressing that Damascus does not want it to become a means of cementing the reality of the Israeli occupation in Syria; rather, it should serve as a tool to halt aggression and create conditions for a security agreement that ultimately leads to an Israeli withdrawal from Syrian territory.

Al-Shaibani emphasized that Israel carried out the Abu al-Duhur strike even though Damascus had informed it that the base would not be a Turkish one. He viewed this as a reflection of the ongoing issues in the relationship between the two sides and underscored the need for practical steps to build trust and de-escalate tensions.

Regarding military cooperation with Turkey, Al-Shaibani stated that Syria relies on Turkish support in the areas of training and military cooperation. He noted that Damascus receives similar support from Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and other nations, affirming that Syria would not forgo any support that contributes to build its capabilities. He said, "As long as Turkey is willing and takes the initiative to support the Syrian people in this regard, we certainly thank them for it, and we will not do without this support."

Sh-S

ANHA