Damascus, Syria – Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa stated on Wednesday that Syria is engaged in indirect negotiations aimed at halting Israeli military strikes on Syrian territory. The talks, he said, are taking place through international mediators.
Speaking at a meeting with tribal and community leaders from the Quneitra province and the Golan Heights at the Presidential Palace in Damascus, al-Sharaa emphasized the use of diplomatic channels to end what he described as ongoing violations of Syrian sovereignty. His comments were reported by Syria’s state-run news agency (SANA).
This announcement follows revelations from Israeli National Security Council head Tzachi Hanegbi, who told members of the Israeli Knesset’s Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee on Tuesday that Israel is maintaining “direct and ongoing dialogue” with Syria’s newly formed government.
Read more: Israel’s National Security Council chief confirms direct Israel-Syria talks
According to Israel Hayom, Hanegbi told the Israeli Knesset’s Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee in a closed-door meeting on Sunday that Israel is engaged in ongoing and direct discussions with Damascus. He emphasized that he is personally overseeing the political and security coordination efforts.
While President al-Sharaa has reportedly told French President Emmanuel Macron that Syria prefers to maintain indirect dialogue with Israel, Hanegbi suggested that “the realities on the ground require daily engagement at all levels of government.”
When questioned about a potential Israeli military withdrawal from the buffer zone along the Syrian border, Hanegbi expressed openness: “If normalization occurs, we will consider this option.”
Read also: Israeli-Syrian Talks Address Military Presence in Talks Held in UAE
Hanegbi also identified Syria and Lebanon as possible candidates for normalization agreements with Israel, modeled after the 2020 Abraham Accords.
These revelations follow a May report by Reuters, citing Emirati efforts to facilitate a backchannel between Israel and Syria. Sources told the agency that the talks, which began shortly after Sharaa’s April visit to the UAE, are focused on intelligence cooperation and building trust.
