Syria’s official news agency reported late Tuesday night that Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani held a meeting in Paris with an Israeli delegation. According to the report, the talks were mediated by the United States and centered on measures to strengthen stability in southern Syria and the wider region.
The discussions reportedly addressed several key issues: de-escalation along the border, adherence to the principle of non-interference in Syria’s internal affairs, regional stability, monitoring the ceasefire in the Druze Mountain area, and the renewal of the 1974 disengagement agreement.
The Syrian report emphasized that these contacts form part of a wider international diplomatic initiative aimed at safeguarding Syria’s security and territorial integrity.
The report is highly unusual, marking the first time in more than 25 years that an official Syrian media outlet has acknowledged direct contact between the Syrian government and Israel.
Earlier in the evening, Channel 12 News’ Barak Ravid reported that Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer had met in Paris with Foreign Minister al-Shaibani and the US envoy to Syria, Tom Barrack. According to that report, the talks focused on security arrangements along the Israeli-Syrian border.
It was further noted that the meeting had originally been scheduled for last week but was postponed at the last minute. This marks the second Dermer-al-Shaibani meeting under US auspices in the past month.