Syria and Israel held high-level, U.S.-mediated talks in Jordan on Sunday, a potentially significant diplomatic step following a series of Israeli strikes on Syrian territory.
Why it matters: The discussions could help prevent another front from escalating in an already volatile Middle East while potentially laying the groundwork for a broader security agreement between two longtime adversaries.
- The talks focused on practical ways to halt Israeli airstrikes, arrests and targeted operations inside Syria, according to Syria’s state news agency SANA, which cited a diplomatic source at the country’s foreign ministry.
- Officials also discussed reviving negotiations toward a security agreement that could eventually serve as the foundation for a broader accord between Israel and Syria.
Turkey too: Another focus was the growing rivalry between Israel and Turkey. The two sides discussed ways to prevent tensions between the regional powers from spilling over into Syrian territory and further destabilizing the country.
- Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani told Reuters on Saturday that Damascus expected security negotiations with Israel to resume soon, although he cautioned that significant distrust remains between the two countries.
The bottom line: There is still a long way to go before Israel and Syria reach any broader agreement, but U.S.-mediated talks offer a rare diplomatic opening that could reduce the risk of another regional escalation.