Syria Expects Security Negotiations With Israel To Resume

Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani announced that Damascus expects security negotiations with Israel to resume soon. The dialogue had recently frozen following an Israeli strike on the Abu al-Duhur airbase on August 18. While al-Shaibani noted a current lack of trust, he indicated that the two nations are likely to return to the table to finalize a security deal nearly completed in early 2026.

The proposed agreement would require Israel to withdraw from territory seized after the fall of Bashar al-Assad and establish security zones, including a United Nations buffer zone. Syria maintains that an end to Israeli aggression is a prerequisite for any broader peace agreement or discussions regarding the status of the Golan Heights.

Israel has defended its military actions as necessary to protect its citizens and prevent the deployment of Turkish forces, though Syria and Turkey deny these claims. The United States is currently pressuring Israel to resume dialogue to prevent wider regional conflict, with U.S. special envoy Tom Barrack working to establish a conflict-prevention mechanism between Israel, Turkey, and Syria.