Syria expects Israel security talks to resume soon, foreign minister says
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Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani said on Saturday that Damascus expects negotiations with Israel over a security deal to resume soon, despite a lack of trust and no set date. He urged Israel to seize a 'historic opportunity' and said the door for diplomacy remains open. The talks have been frozen since the start of the Iran war, and contact was cut after Israel bombed a Syrian airbase days ago.
Key Facts
- Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani said negotiations with Israel over a security deal are expected to resume soon, though no date has been set.
- The talks have been frozen since the start of the Iran war, and contact between Syria and Israel was cut after Israel bombed a Syrian airbase days ago.
- Shaibani said the sides had agreed on paper to almost everything early this year, but added, 'We do not trust Israel currently.'
- Washington has been seeking to forge a security deal between Israel and the government of Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa for over a year.
- The draft deal would create security zones near the border, including a UN-only zone.
Negotiation Status
Shaibani told Reuters in Damascus on Saturday that he believes negotiations over the security agreement will resume soon, despite no date being set. He said the talks had been frozen since the start of the Iran war, and that contact between Syria and Israel was cut after the airbase strike. The foreign minister stressed that Damascus' priority is to halt Israeli attacks, saying confidence-building steps were needed in this direction. Shaibani said the sides had agreed on paper to almost everything early this year, but added, 'We do not trust Israel currently.'
US Mediation and Draft Deal
Washington has been seeking to forge a security deal between Israel and the government of Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa for over a year. The draft deal would create security zones near the border, including a UN-only zone. Shaibani said the U.S. is trying continuously to put pressure on Israel to return to the dialogue table. Asked how optimistic he was, Shaibani said: 'It's very hard to bet on Israel.'
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Syria expects Israel security talks to resume soon, foreign minister says
