Senior Syrian and Israeli delegations met in Jordan on Sunday for US-mediated discussions aimed at easing tensions and reviving negotiations on a possible security agreement, Syria’s state news agency SANA reported, citing a diplomatic source.
The Syrian delegation was led by Foreign Affairs Chief Asaad al-Shaibani and included the heads of the country’s general and military intelligence services. Israel also sent a senior delegation to the meeting, according to the source.
The talks in Jordan came amid heightened tensions following recent Israeli strikes on Syrian territory and growing instability in southern Syria. The meeting was intended to promote stability in Syria and the broader region.
According to the diplomatic source, the discussions centered on practical measures to stop Israeli attacks, arrests and other targeting operations, while exploring ways to resume negotiations on a security agreement that could eventually pave the way for a broader deal.
The Syrian delegation emphasized that Syria is a sovereign country with the right to rebuild and strengthen its national military and choose its alliances and partnerships based on its national interests.
Damascus made clear that it would reject any agreement or mechanism that limits those sovereign rights, the source said.
The Syrian side also reiterated its position that the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights is Syrian territory. However, it said discussions on the territory’s final status and a broader settlement of the issue would be premature at this stage.
For now, Damascus identified the withdrawal of Israeli forces to the positions they held before Dec. 8, 2024, and the complete restoration and implementation of the 1974 Disengagement Agreement as its immediate priorities.
The talks also included efforts to reduce differences between Türkiye and Israel and prevent tensions between the two regional powers from affecting Syrian territory, according to the source.
The Syrian delegation stressed that any future security arrangements must respect Syria’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and sovereign rights, while both sides explored practical measures to ease tensions and resume negotiations.
Israel carried out a strike on the Abu al-Duhur military airport in northwestern Syria on Tuesday, claiming that Damascus was preparing to allow Turkish forces to deploy there. Syria and Türkiye rejected the Israeli allegation.