Syrian Foreign Minister al-Shaibani holds discussions with an Israeli delegation regarding regional peace and security.
In a significant development, Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani met with an Israeli delegation in Paris on Tuesday evening, marking a rare encounter between the two countries' diplomats. The talks, which were held under US auspices, focused on regional stability and de-escalation in southern Syria, particularly the volatile situation in the Druze-majority Sweida region.
Key details of the meeting include discussions centering on de-escalation and non-interference in Syria’s internal affairs, with both parties emphasizing the unity and territorial integrity of Syria and rejecting any projects aiming to divide the country. A significant topic was the Sweida ceasefire, recently declared by the US to address the deadly violence between Druze militias and Sunni Bedouin factions in the region. The meeting addressed ways to monitor and uphold this ceasefire, following a surge of clashes in July 2025 that drew in Syrian government forces and triggered Israeli military strikes.
Israel's concerns include ensuring the protection of the Druze community—which has ties to Israel’s own Druze population—and preventing Syrian military deployments in southern Syria that cross previously established red lines. The two sides also discussed reactivating the 1974 Syrian-Israeli disengagement (ceasefire) agreement, which originally established a UN buffer zone in the Golan Heights, an area Israel has occupied since 1967. Reviving this agreement is seen as a step towards maintaining calm and reducing hostilities along the border region.
Syrian intelligence officials were also present at the talks, highlighting the importance of the meeting. This is remarkable given Syria’s rare official acknowledgment of direct diplomatic contacts with Israel after more than 25 years of no formal engagement. US mediation played a crucial role, with US Special Envoy Thomas Barrack engaging various stakeholders, including Israeli Druze spiritual leader Mowafaq Tarif, to foster understanding and facilitate humanitarian aid corridors for Sweida’s Druze population.
The Paris meeting symbolizes a breakthrough in quiet diplomacy aiming to reduce violence and stabilize southern Syria by revisiting existing ceasefire frameworks and addressing humanitarian and security concerns of minority communities amidst ongoing regional complexities. However, no details have been released about any potential agreements or understandings reached during the meeting.
It is important to note that these talks are separate from the indirect talks between the Syrian interim president and Israel, which were not held under US auspices. The state news agency SANA has not reported on the talks mentioned in this article, unlike the Paris meeting. Israel has not yet commented on the matter. This is additional confirmation of the rare diplomatic engagement between Syria and Israel.
The meeting in Paris on August 19, 2025, is the latest attempt to address regional tensions and promote stability in the Middle East. While no further details about the security agreement have been publicly disclosed, the meeting is significant as it marks a step towards potential peace and cooperation between Syria and Israel.
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