The American envoy Thomas Barrack, following his meeting with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, sent a direct message to Lebanon, urging it to look to Syria as an example. In a press conference, Barrack praised Syria’s swift transition, as he put it, “from total chaos to hope,” noting that countries around the world are now competing to contribute to Syria’s reconstruction.
This American position builds on what President Donald Trump began when he praised Syrian President Ahmad Al-Sharaa during their meeting in Riyadh, describing Syria as a model for rapid political and economic rebuilding. Trump famously remarked at the time, “Who would have expected Syria to reach this point so quickly?”
These statements appeared to pave the way for a clearer stance, as Barrack, in an interview with Arab News, summed up the US position by confirming that the Dialogue between Syria and Israel has begun, and it must also begin between Lebanon.
Abu Dhabi – A Pivotal Arab Moment
Coinciding with the US moves, Syrian President Ahmad Al-Sharaa arrived in Abu Dhabi without prior announcement or a clear public agenda, where he met UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed at Al Shati Palace.
The meeting, described by well-informed sources as unusual in both timing and substance, reflected a UAE desire to support Damascus politically and economically and to provide it with an Arab backing at a critical moment. This comes as the Syrian government works to stabilize the south and contain Israeli influence by agreeing to conditional security arrangements based on the 1974 ceasefire lines.
Sources revealed that the UAE has played a key role in facilitating indirect communication channels between Damascus and Tel Aviv. Reuters cited three sources confirming that during Al-Sharaa’s first visit on April 13, Abu Dhabi opened a backchannel for indirect talks, initially focused on security and technical issues with the possibility of expanding discussions later.
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Tel Aviv – Raising the Stakes
Israel’s Yedioth Ahronoth confirmed these reports, publishing details of three secret meetings in Abu Dhabi between Syrian and Israeli delegations.
As soon as Al-Sharaa returned to Damascus, Israeli media raised expectations, claiming that Israel’s National Security Council head Tzachi Hanegbi held a direct meeting with the Syrian president, describing it as “productive.”
This was echoed by the independent Syrian outlet Al-Jumhuriya, citing two sources close to the negotiations. However, Damascus quickly denied the report, insisting that discussions remain preliminary and strictly limited to Syria’s conditions for returning to the 1974 ceasefire agreement.
Observers believe Israel deliberately leaked these claims to pre-empt any potential arrangements and to put political pressure on Damascus, especially after Israel’s i24 channel published a report speculating about dividing the Golan Heights between recovered areas and territories offered to Israel or leased to it; and even floated using Lebanon’s Tripoli as a bargaining chip for a full normalization deal.
Analysts argue that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu seeks to leverage this file as a “historic deal” to present himself domestically as the leader who achieved peace with Syria and “redrew the Middle East map,” hoping to fend off his ongoing legal troubles.
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Damascus – A Meeting of “Frenemies”
In parallel, the Tishreen Presidential Palace in Damascus hosted a four-party meeting to discuss the future of relations between the Syrian government, the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria, and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). The meeting included Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Al-Shibani, SDF Commander Mazloum Abdi, US envoy Tom Barrack, and the US ambassador to Turkey.
Barrack used the occasion to deliver a clear message to SDF leaders: There’s not going to be six countries. There’s going to be one Syria. The US is not dictating terms but would not support a separatist outcome. One Syria, One Army, One Government.”
The Autonomous Administration’s delegation emphasized the need for political and administrative decentralization in any new constitution and expressed readiness to integrate into state institutions without dismantling its own administrative and military structures; a position Damascus rejected, insisting on full control over all territories, including security and economic assets.
Abdi and Barrack reportedly also discussed four key files: the resurgence of ISIS activity, implementation of the March 10 agreement between the government and SDF, ongoing cooperation with the international coalition against ISIS, and future ties with Ankara.
Speaking to +963, a well-informed European diplomatic source said the emerging security understanding between Damascus and Tel Aviv is closely linked to resolving disputes between Damascus and the SDF. Barrack, the source said, is working to defuse tensions to pave the way for a viable outcome on the Israel track.
According to the source, the SDF remains the only force capable of militarily challenging Damascus, while the government enjoys direct Turkish backing to pressure the SDF — a scenario Washington views warily as it seeks stability ahead of any security agreement with Israel.
The source warned that ISIS could exploit this fragile situation to launch new attacks, adding that the US fears other jihadist groups, previously linked to Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, could join ISIS, reigniting chaos and complicating efforts to stabilize the region.
Turkey, the source noted, has signaled its willingness to intervene militarily to support the Syrian government in containing any security setbacks; an additional factor that Israel sees as a serious complication in an already tangled equation.
