Syria, Israel hold US-mediated talks to ease tensions

Syria and Israel held high-level, U.S.-mediated talks in Jordan on Sunday aimed at easing tensions following recent Israeli strikes on Syrian territory, Syria's state news agency SANA reported, citing a diplomatic source.

The talks focused on practical mechanisms to halt Israeli strikes, arrests and targeted operations, ​and on reviving negotiations towards a security agreement that could lay the groundwork for a ⁠broader future accord, according to the report.

The two sides also discussed efforts to ease tensions between Israel and Türkiye and to ​prevent their rivalry from spilling onto Syrian territory.

Syria's Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani told Reuters on Saturday that Damascus expected security negotiations with ​Israel to resume soon, although he added that there was a lack of trust between them.

Talks had been suspended since the start of the Iran war, while Syria cut off contact entirely after Israeli strikes on Syria’s Abu al-Duhur airbase last week, according to Shaibani.

At Sunday’s meeting, SANA said, Syria indicated that its immediate priorities remained an Israeli withdrawal to positions held before Bashar al-Assad's overthrow on December ​8, 2024, and the full ​restoration of a 1974 disengagement ⁠agreement.

Damascus also told the Israeli delegation it would not accept arrangements restricting its right to rebuild and develop its armed forces or determine its alliances and partnerships, SANA said.