Potential military agreements and security enhancements between Syria and Israel could become a reality by the end of 2025.
Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani of Syria has arrived in Washington for an official visit, marking the first time a Syrian foreign minister has set foot in the city since 1999. The primary focus of this visit is to discuss ongoing negotiations with Israel and the potential lifting of remaining US sanctions on Syria.
The discussions are set to cover the halting of Israeli military operations inside Syria, a key concern for the Syrian government. Last week, President Ahmed al-Sharaa announced that Syria is negotiating with Israel to reach a security agreement, which would see Israel withdraw from areas it has recently occupied.
Al-Shaibani's visit to Washington follows a meeting with Israeli Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer in London on Wednesday, as reported by U.S. news outlet Axios. Israel has expressed a demand for a demilitarized zone in southern Syria, a point likely to be discussed during the talks.
The Syrian military has already withdrawn all heavy weaponry from the area, suggesting progress in the negotiations. The United States is pushing for an agreement between Syria and Israel to halt hostilities between the two countries, a move that could bring stability to the region.
Since December, Israel has deployed troops in a U.N.-patrolled buffer zone separating the countries' forces and launched hundreds of strikes in Syria, with Damascus not retaliating. This relative peace could be a sign of the progress being made in the negotiations.
In addition to the Washington visit, a new meeting between Syrian and Israeli officials is scheduled to be held in Baku on Friday. However, the search results do not provide specific information about which individuals will attend this meeting.
The Syrian foreign minister's trip to Washington is not his first diplomatic visit. In April, he raised Syria's new flag at the United Nations headquarters in New York. Syrian President al-Sharaa is also scheduled to speak at the United Nations General Assembly in New York next week, the first Syrian leader to do so since Nureddin al-Atassi in 1967.
It's worth noting that Syria and Israel are technically at war but have opened direct negotiations after Bashar Assad was toppled. The interim Syrian president remains under United Nations sanctions and a travel ban and must request exemptions for all foreign trips.
The United States has already lifted most sanctions it imposed on Syria during Assad's rule after the Islamist-led rebel alliance overthrew him. The Syrian government's aim is to finalize security and military agreements with Israel by the end of 2025.
These developments in the Syria-Israel relations could mark a significant step towards peace in the Middle East. As the negotiations continue, the world watches with hope for a resolution to this long-standing conflict.
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