Israel and Syria agree to speed U.S.-mediated security talks toward southern Syria demilitarization
Israel and Syria held a U.S.-mediated meeting in Paris — their fifth round of talks and the first in two months after a stalemate — and agreed to accelerate negotiations, hold more frequent sessions and take confidence-building measures, according to Israeli officials. Full delegations including Israel’s Ambassador Yechiel Leiter and Syria’s Foreign Minister Asaad al‑Shaibani met with senior security aides, and both sides said they seek a Trump‑framed security pact expected to include demilitarization of southern Syria and an Israeli withdrawal from areas occupied since the Assad regime’s fall.
📌 Key Facts
- A U.S.-mediated meeting in Paris took place; after several hours Israel and Syria agreed to accelerate the pace of negotiations and hold more frequent meetings.
- The talks were the fifth round and the first in two months after a stalemate; President Trump personally pressed Prime Minister Netanyahu last week in Florida to return to the table.
- Both sides committed to take confidence-building measures between the two countries, according to a senior Israeli official.
- An Israeli official said both countries expressed a desire to reach a security agreement explicitly framed as under President Trump’s “vision for the Middle East.”
- Any eventual deal is expected to include demilitarization of southern Syria and an Israeli withdrawal from Syrian areas Israel has occupied since the Assad regime’s fall.
- The Israeli delegation included Ambassador Yechiel Leiter, military secretary Roman Gofman and acting National Security Adviser Gil Reich; the Syrian delegation included Foreign Minister Asaad al‑Shaibani and Intelligence Chief Hussein Salameh.
📊 Relevant Data
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📰 Sources (2)
- The Paris meeting has taken place and, after several hours of talks, Israel and Syria agreed to accelerate the pace of negotiations and hold more frequent meetings.
- Both sides committed to take confidence‑building measures between the two countries, according to a senior Israeli official.
- An Israeli official says both countries expressed a desire to reach a security agreement explicitly framed as under President Trump’s “vision for the Middle East.”
- The article details the full Israeli delegation (Ambassador Yechiel Leiter, military secretary Roman Gofman, acting National Security Adviser Gil Reich) and the Syrian delegation (Foreign Minister Asaad al‑Shaibani and Intelligence Chief Hussein Salameh).
- The piece notes that this was the fifth round of U.S.-mediated talks and the first in two months after a stalemate, and that Trump personally pressed Netanyahu last week in Florida to return to the table.
- Axios reports that any eventual deal is expected to include demilitarization of southern Syria and an Israeli withdrawal from Syrian areas it has occupied since the Assad regime’s fall.