Damascus, Aug 2026 : Senior Syrian and Israeli delegations held US-mediated talks in Jordan on Sunday, focusing on measures to reduce tensions and revive negotiations towards a security agreement, Syria’s state news agency SANA reported, citing a diplomatic source.
The meeting brought together high-level representatives from both sides amid heightened tensions following Israeli military strikes on Syrian territory and growing instability in southern Syria.
The Syrian delegation was led by Foreign Affairs chief Asaad al-Shaibani and included the heads of the country’s general and military intelligence services. Israel was represented by a senior delegation, according to the diplomatic source.
The talks, hosted by Jordan, were aimed at establishing practical mechanisms to prevent further escalation and support stability in Syria and the wider region. The discussions also sought to create conditions for the resumption of negotiations between Damascus and Israel.
According to the source, the Syrian side called for mechanisms to halt Israeli attacks, arrests and other targeting operations inside Syrian territory. Damascus also expressed its readiness to continue discussions aimed at reaching a security agreement that could eventually serve as the foundation for a broader settlement.
During the talks, Syrian officials stressed that Syria is a sovereign state with the right to rebuild and develop its national armed forces and independently determine its international alliances and partnerships in accordance with its national interests.
The Syrian delegation made clear that Damascus would not accept arrangements that restrict or undermine these sovereign rights. It also reiterated Syria’s position that the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights remains Syrian territory.
However, the Syrian side indicated that discussions over the final status of the Golan Heights and a comprehensive resolution of the dispute would be premature at the present stage.
Instead, Damascus identified the withdrawal of Israeli forces to positions held before December 8, 2024, and the restoration and implementation of the 1974 Disengagement Agreement as its immediate priorities.
The talks also addressed regional tensions involving Türkiye and Israel. According to the diplomatic source, efforts were discussed to narrow differences between Ankara and Tel Aviv and prevent their rivalry from spilling over into Syrian territory.
The meeting comes amid continuing concerns over Israeli military operations in Syria. Israel recently struck the Abu al-Duhur military airport in northwestern Syria, claiming that Damascus was preparing to allow Turkish forces to deploy there.
Both Syria and Türkiye rejected the Israeli allegation.
The latest talks represent an effort to establish practical measures for reducing tensions while reopening a diplomatic channel between Syria and Israel. Damascus has stressed that any future security arrangement must respect Syria’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and independent decision-making.
The discussions also underline the broader regional importance of preventing further escalation, particularly as competing military and political interests involving Syria, Israel and Türkiye continue to shape the security environment in the region.
(Disclaimer :The content of this article is sourced from a news agency and has not been edited by the Mavericknews30 team.)
