Syrian Delegation Holds High-Level Talks with Israel in Jordan
A high-level Syrian delegation has participated in direct talks with an Israeli delegation, aimed at establishing mechanisms for de-escalation and restoring stability in Syria and the wider region. The meeting, which took place on Sunday, was held in Jordan under the auspices of American mediation.
The Syrian delegation was led by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates, Asaad Hassan al-Shibani, and included the heads of both the General Intelligence and Military Intelligence directorates. The diplomatic engagement follows a period of heightened tension marked by recent Israeli airstrikes on Syrian territory and increasing instability, particularly in the southern regions of the country.
Discussions during the meeting centered on the development of practical frameworks to halt Israeli strikes and security operations, including targeted arrests and military engagements. Both sides explored the revival of a negotiation process intended to yield a security agreement, which could serve as a foundation for a more comprehensive future accord between the two parties.
Throughout the sessions, the Syrian delegation maintained a firm stance regarding the country’s national sovereignty. The Syrian officials emphasized that the state retains the absolute right to reconstruct and develop its national military, as well as the prerogative to determine its strategic alliances and partnerships based on its national interests. The Syrian side categorically rejected any security arrangements or operational mechanisms that might infringe upon these sovereign rights.
Regarding the status of the occupied Golan, the Syrian delegation reaffirmed its consistent position that the territory is an integral part of Syria. The officials noted that discussions concerning the final status of the Golan or the specific pathway toward a permanent settlement remain premature at this stage. Instead, the Syrian priority remains the immediate withdrawal of Israeli forces to the positions held prior to December 8, 2024, alongside the full reactivation and implementation of the 1974 Disengagement of Forces Agreement.
The talks also touched upon broader regional security concerns, including efforts to bridge the gaps in perception between Turkey and Israel, with an emphasis on ensuring that existing tensions between those two nations do not spill over into Syrian territory.
Ultimately, the meeting served as a forum to deliberate on actionable steps for de-escalation. While the discussions underscored a willingness to return to a negotiation track, the Syrian delegation reiterated that any future security arrangements must be strictly contingent upon the respect for Syria’s territorial integrity and its sovereign independence.
