Syria, Israel hold US-mediated talks in Jordan to ease tensions, SANA reports
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Syria and Israel held high-level, U.S.-mediated talks in Jordan on Sunday aimed at easing tensions after recent Israeli strikes on Syrian territory, Syria's state news agency SANA reported. The talks focused on halting Israeli strikes, arrests and targeted operations, and reviving negotiations toward a security agreement. Syria reiterated its demand for an Israeli withdrawal to positions held before Bashar al-Assad's overthrow on December 8, 2024.
Key Facts
- Syria and Israel held high-level, U.S.-mediated talks in Jordan on Sunday, August 23, 2026, according to SANA.
- The talks focused on practical mechanisms to halt Israeli strikes, arrests and targeted operations, and on reviving negotiations toward a security agreement.
- Syria's immediate priorities included an Israeli withdrawal to positions held before Bashar al-Assad's overthrow on December 8, 2024, and full restoration of the 1974 disengagement agreement.
- Damascus 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.
- Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani told Reuters on Saturday that Damascus expected security negotiations with Israel to resume soon, though he cited a lack of trust.
Negotiation Agenda
The talks in Jordan 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, 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. 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.
Background and Context
Syrian 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. Washington has for more than a year sought to broker a security agreement between Israel and the government of Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa. 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.
Syrian Positions
Syria reiterated that the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights were Syrian territory but said discussions over the region's final status were premature, according to the SANA report. The Israeli prime minister's office did not reply to a request for comment on Shaibani's remarks.
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Syria, Israel hold US-mediated talks in Jordan to ease tensions, SANA reports
