For the first time in years, Israeli and Syrian officials reportedly sat down for direct talks in Paris on Thursday, alongside US special envoy Tom Barrack, who confirmed the meeting. “I met this evening with the Syrians and Israelis in Paris. Our goal was dialogue and de-escalation, and we accomplished precisely that. All parties reiterated their commitment to continuing these efforts,” Barrack shared in a post on X.
Although neither Israel nor Syria officially confirmed the meeting, sources revealed that Israel’s Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer and Syria’s Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani were present. This marks a rare and public confirmation of contact between the two long-time adversaries.
Background: Tensions, Dialogue, and Mediators
Over the past few months, Israel and Syria have reportedly engaged in indirect and secret talks, but none were confirmed publicly. Thursday’s meeting was seen as a significant shift toward open dialogue.
According to Saudi channel Al-Hadath, recent deadly clashes in Damascus and Sweida prompted both countries to resume dialogue. The United States and Turkey are currently mediating the discussions.
The next step may involve an Israeli delegation visiting Baku, Azerbaijan, to finalize agreements. However, reports say Israel is not ready to stop its military operations in Syria and is demanding a demilitarized buffer zone along the shared border, where Israeli forces have maintained a presence since the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime in 2023.
Missed Meetings and Shifting Alliances
Dermer was also scheduled to meet US special envoy Steve Witkoff in Rome on Thursday, but that meeting was canceled after both nations pulled out of Gaza ceasefire negotiations in Doha.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with Sheikh Muwaffaq Tarif, spiritual leader of Israel’s Druze community, reflecting Israel’s support for the Druze minority during recent violence in southern Syria.
US and Israeli Tensions Over Military Strikes
Prior to the latest attacks, Israel and Syria were reportedly close to reaching a deal to end hostilities, with pressure from the Trump administration to normalize relations.
However, Israel’s recent airstrikes on Syrian territory—involving five cities, including the strategic city of Hama—caused friction with Washington. The White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said on Monday that Trump was “caught off guard” by the strikes.
US officials, speaking anonymously to Axios, expressed frustration with Netanyahu’s decision, arguing that it could destabilize Syria’s new leadership under interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa, whom Washington supports.
Tom Barrack echoed this concern, saying Israel’s recent actions were “poorly timed” and have complicated regional stabilization efforts.
Turkey’s Expanding Role in Syria
Following the violence, Syria’s interim government asked Turkey for military assistance, including defense training, advisory support, and help fighting terrorist groups like ISIS. Turkish officials confirmed this on Wednesday, speaking anonymously due to protocol.
Turkey, once a backer of Syrian rebels, now supports the new Syrian government led by Sharaa. Both nations are negotiating a defense pact that could allow Turkey to build military bases inside Syria.
Meanwhile, Israel accused Turkey of trying to create a “protectorate” in Syria through these efforts.
Despite these tensions, Israel and Turkey recently reached a deal to avoid direct confrontations in Syria. They reportedly created a “deconfliction mechanism” after a month of negotiations.
Erdogan Criticizes Israel’s Syria Policy
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan have both strongly criticized Israel’s recent airstrikes. Fidan claimed that “Israel wants a divided Syria,” while Erdogan accused Israel of using the Druze minority as a cover to expand its military influence in the region.
The Paris meeting between Israeli and Syrian officials, facilitated by the US, marks a significant move toward dialogue after years of hostility. While direct peace remains uncertain, regional powers like Turkey and the US are playing a key role in trying to stabilize Syria and balance competing interests. However, Israel’s continued military actions and political demands are making peace efforts more complex.
