Syrian government source reveals details of recent Syrian-Israeli meeting

A Syrian delegation—led by Foreign Minister Asaad Al-Shaibani and including the heads of General Intelligence, Hussein Salameh, and Military Intelligence, Nidal Shaheen—held a meeting with an Israeli delegation in Jordan. Facilitated by the United States, the meeting aimed to discuss de-escalation between the two sides following recent Israeli strikes on Syrian territory and rising tensions in southern Syria.

SANA news agency quoted a diplomatic source at the Syrian Foreign Ministry as saying that the meeting focused on establishing practical mechanisms to halt Israeli attacks, arrests, and targeting operations. Discussions also explored the possibility of reviving the negotiation process to reach a security agreement that could serve as the foundation for a more comprehensive future accord.

The source added that, during the meeting, the delegation "affirmed that Syria is a sovereign state with the right to rebuild and develop its national army and to determine its alliances and partnerships in accordance with its national interests," while emphasizing its rejection of any arrangements that would restrict these rights.

The Syrian side also reiterated its position regarding the occupied Golan as Syrian territory, deeming any discussion of its final status—or the path toward it—premature. It emphasized that the current priority is the withdrawal of Israeli forces to the lines held prior to December 8, 2024, and the reactivation and full implementation of the 1974 Disengagement of Forces Agreement.

According to the source, discussions also addressed the importance of supporting stability in Syria and regional security, including efforts to bridge the gap between Turkey and Israel and to prevent tensions between them from spilling over into Syrian territory.

The US news site (Axios) had previously reported that Syrian and Israeli officials held a meeting in Jordan aimed at de-escalating tensions and containing the situation between the two countries.

The meeting takes place amidst rising tensions along the Syrian-Israeli border and follows an airstrike on the Abu al-Duhur military airport in the Idlib countryside—a facility Israel claimed Turkey was preparing to utilize—as efforts continue to reach security arrangements that would curb escalation and pave the way for a resumption of negotiations between the parties.

Sh-S

ANHA