Syria and Israel Hold High-Level Talks in Jordan as Diplomacy Struggles Amid Distrust

Syria and Israel held high-level, US-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 at the foreign ministry. The talks focused on practical mechanisms to halt Israeli strikes, arrests, and targeted operations, and on reviving negotiations toward a security agreement that could lay the groundwork for a broader future accord, SANA said. The two sides also discussed efforts to ease tensions between Israel and Turkey and to prevent their rivalry from spilling onto Syrian territory.

The meeting came days after Israel bombed the disused Abu al-Duhur airbase in northwestern Syria on Tuesday, claiming it wanted to avert Turkish troops deploying to the facility. Both Syria and Turkey denied the claim. The strike highlighted tensions that have strained the fragile diplomatic channel between Israel and Syria's new government under President Ahmed al-Sharaa, which took power after Bashar al-Assad's overthrow in December 2024.

Distrust and Diplomacy

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. "We believe there should be contact, especially with a party that constantly threatens the security of Syria. But if this contact doesn't bring results, then we don't need it," Shaibani said. "We do not trust Israel currently." He urged Israel to seize a "historic opportunity" and said the door remains open for diplomacy.

Talks had been suspended since the start of the Iran war, while Syria cut off contact entirely after Israeli strikes on the Abu al-Duhur airbase last week, according to Shaibani. Washington has for more than a year sought to broker a security agreement between Israel and the government of Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, but the deal has proven elusive as Israel has sent troops into Syrian territory and attacked government assets, citing threats to its security.

Shaibani said the two sides had agreed on paper to "almost everything" around the beginning of the year, including arrangements for security zones in southern Syria and a buffer zone where only United Nations forces would be present, but Damascus doubted Israel's willingness to implement the agreement. He added that Syria's immediate priority is to halt Israeli attacks and take confidence-building steps.

Syria's Stance and Israeli Position

At Sunday's meeting, SANA reported, 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. Syria reiterated that the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights is Syrian territory, though it noted that discussion of its final status remains premature.

Israeli officials have talked about a range of potential dangers in Syria since Bashar al-Assad was toppled, with some describing the new rulers as barely disguised jihadists in 2025, even as Sharaa forged close US ties. Israel has carried out hundreds of strikes since Assad's fall, saying they are necessary for security, and has sent troops into the UN-patrolled buffer zone on the Golan. Israel has also conducted repeated incursions deeper into Syrian territory and vowed to keep troops in a "security zone" in southern Syria.

The Israeli Prime Minister's Office did not respond to a request for comment on Shaibani's remarks.

US Mediation and Broader Implications

US special envoy Tom Barrack said last week that he is working on a mechanism to prevent conflict among Israel, Turkey, and Syria. Barrack criticized the airbase strike as an "unnecessary escalation" and suggested Israel may have been "baiting the Turks" in a podcast interview. No agreement has yet been reached on the mechanism, and the US State Department did not respond to requests for comment.

The talks also touched on efforts to bridge the gap between Israel and Turkey, with Syria emphasizing that it does not want disagreements between the two regional powers to affect its security and stability. Syria has drawn on Turkish support in military training and cooperation, and Shaibani affirmed that Syria would continue relying on Turkish assistance.

Analysis: Deep-Rooted Challenges

Hassan Mneimneh, an analyst, said the talks are unlikely to lead to de-escalation, as Israel is likely to bring more demands. He expressed concerns that Syria could become a battlefield for regional rivalries and that Israel's actions may amount to a territorial grab.

Since July 2025, Syria and Israel have held several rounds of de-escalation talks, but no agreement has been reached. The technical state of war between the two countries dates back to 1948, and Israel captured the Golan Heights in the 1967 Six-Day War and later annexed it, a move recognized by the US but not by most of the international community. The recent strike on Abu al-Duhur airbase, even after Syria conveyed that it would not become a Turkish base, has deepened Syrian distrust and complicated the path to any agreement.