Syria and Israel Hold US-Mediated Talks in Jordan to Ease Tensions

Syria and Israel have held US-mediated talks in Jordan aimed at reducing tensions following an Israeli strike on a Syrian airbase near the Turkish border.

Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani met with a high-level Israeli delegation reportedly led by Mossad chief Roman Gofman. Syrian state media said the discussions focused on stopping Israeli attacks, arrests and military operations in Syria, while reviving negotiations toward a long-term security agreement.

The talks also addressed growing tensions between Israel and Türkiye and efforts to prevent their rivalry from turning Syrian territory into a battleground.

Syria reportedly called for Israel to withdraw to positions held before the fall of former President Bashar al-Assad and demanded the full restoration of the 1974 disengagement agreement. Damascus also reaffirmed its sovereignty over the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights and rejected any arrangements that would restrict Syria's right to rebuild its army and choose its alliances.

Israel, meanwhile, has reportedly set several conditions, including limiting Turkish military activity in Syria, keeping areas on the Syrian side of the Golan Heights demilitarised, protecting Syria's Druze community and preventing the Syrian army from obtaining certain strategic weapons.

The United States has been attempting to broker a security agreement between Syria and Israel for more than a year. Previous negotiations produced agreements on intelligence-sharing and mechanisms to prevent military escalation, but the process stalled earlier this year.

Despite the latest talks, analysts remain cautious about the prospects for a breakthrough. Hassan Mneimneh of the Middle East Institute said Syria was primarily seeking to prevent its territory from becoming a battleground between Israel and Türkiye while strengthening its authority following Assad's removal.

The talks represent a renewed diplomatic effort to prevent further escalation in Syria, but major disagreements over Israeli military presence, Turkish involvement and Syria's sovereignty remain unresolved.

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