World News
Syria pursues diplomatic engagement with Israel despite ongoing military strikes
Damascus prioritizes security talks and international mediation as Israeli forces continue incursions into Syrian territory following the 2024 fall of Bashar al-Assad.
The short version
- Syria's post-Assad government under President Ahmed al-Sharaa is pursuing diplomatic negotiation with Israel rather than military conflict to prioritize domestic rebuilding.
- Israeli forces have continued military strikes on Syrian infrastructure, occupied parts of southern Syria beyond the Golan Heights, and carried out arrests and incursions.
- Recent US-mediated talks in Amman between Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani and Mossad chief Roman Gofman aimed to establish security mechanisms to halt attacks.
- A lasting peace agreement remains uncertain due to ongoing Israeli military operations and upcoming Israeli elections.
Key facts
- President Ahmed al-Sharaa's government took power in December 2024 following the fall of Bashar al-Assad and adopted a policy of diplomatic engagement with neighbors.[Al Jazeera]
- Israeli military forces moved beyond the occupied Golan Heights into southern Syria, establishing checkpoints and conducting arrests after the Assad regime collapsed.[Al Jazeera]
- Israeli forces struck the Syrian Ministry of Defence in Damascus in July 2025 and recently attacked the Abu al-Duhur airbase near Idlib.[Al Jazeera]
- Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani met Mossad head Roman Gofman during US-mediated talks in Amman focused on halting attacks and reviving security agreements.[Al Jazeera]
- Syria's stated primary demands are an end to Israeli strikes, a halt to border incursions and citizen arrests, and a complete Israeli troop withdrawal from post-Assad seized areas.[Al Jazeera]
- Foreign Minister al-Shaibani explicitly stated that Syria does not currently consider Israel a trustworthy partner.[Al Jazeera]
What remains uncertain
- Whether US-mediated security mechanisms or de-escalation frameworks can effectively stop Israeli military operations in Syria remains unknown.[Al Jazeera]
- It is uncertain if upcoming Israeli elections in October will lead to increased regional military escalation.[Al Jazeera]