Israel and Syria have announced plans to establish a joint intelligence-sharing mechanism, pending US approval. The move aims to reduce tensions on the ground and foster military de-escalation between the two former adversaries.
A historic meeting in Paris saw Syrian Foreign Minister Faisal Mekhail meet with Israeli officials, marking the first known encounter between the two sides in months. The talks were mediated by Tom Barrack, a close friend of US President Donald Trump, who has advocated for supporting Syria's new interim president, Ahmed al-Sharaa.
Al-Sharaa, who took power after a lightning-fast ousting of Bashar al-Assad, has been praised by Trump and is backed by Saudi Arabia and Turkey. Israel has expressed skepticism about Sharaa's intentions but the two sides have agreed to engage in diplomatic efforts.
As part of their agreement, Syria and Israel will set up a joint communication cell under US supervision to facilitate intelligence sharing, military de-escalation, and commercial opportunities. The mechanism aims to address disputes promptly and prevent misunderstandings.
The talks also touched on issues related to the Golan Heights, which Israel captured in 1967. Sharaa has sought to restore a disengagement agreement that was voided by Israel's unilateral declaration. However, he has opposed Israel's demands for a demilitarized zone in southern Syria.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office welcomed the talks and expressed support for economic cooperation with Syria. The two sides also agreed to continue dialogue aimed at advancing shared objectives and safeguarding the security of the Druze minority in Syria.
Israel's air strikes on Syria, including recent raids on Damascus, have raised concerns about the country's intentions. Analysts have speculated that these strikes may be an attempt by Israel to degrade Syria's military capabilities while it is weak.
The US has recently lifted all remaining sanctions on Syria, aiming to facilitate its integration into the global economy. The new agreement between Israel and Syria reflects a desire for reduced tensions in the region.
A historic meeting in Paris saw Syrian Foreign Minister Faisal Mekhail meet with Israeli officials, marking the first known encounter between the two sides in months. The talks were mediated by Tom Barrack, a close friend of US President Donald Trump, who has advocated for supporting Syria's new interim president, Ahmed al-Sharaa.
Al-Sharaa, who took power after a lightning-fast ousting of Bashar al-Assad, has been praised by Trump and is backed by Saudi Arabia and Turkey. Israel has expressed skepticism about Sharaa's intentions but the two sides have agreed to engage in diplomatic efforts.
As part of their agreement, Syria and Israel will set up a joint communication cell under US supervision to facilitate intelligence sharing, military de-escalation, and commercial opportunities. The mechanism aims to address disputes promptly and prevent misunderstandings.
The talks also touched on issues related to the Golan Heights, which Israel captured in 1967. Sharaa has sought to restore a disengagement agreement that was voided by Israel's unilateral declaration. However, he has opposed Israel's demands for a demilitarized zone in southern Syria.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office welcomed the talks and expressed support for economic cooperation with Syria. The two sides also agreed to continue dialogue aimed at advancing shared objectives and safeguarding the security of the Druze minority in Syria.
Israel's air strikes on Syria, including recent raids on Damascus, have raised concerns about the country's intentions. Analysts have speculated that these strikes may be an attempt by Israel to degrade Syria's military capabilities while it is weak.
The US has recently lifted all remaining sanctions on Syria, aiming to facilitate its integration into the global economy. The new agreement between Israel and Syria reflects a desire for reduced tensions in the region.
. I mean, think about it - two former adversaries teaming up to share intel and reduce tensions? It's like they're trying out a new "Mission: Impossible" style gadget 
. But seriously, with the US lifting sanctions on Syria, this deal could be a major step towards regional stability. And let's be real, it's gonna be interesting to see how this plays out, especially considering Israel's concerns about Syria's intentions 
. Will this new agreement lead to a Middle East peace? Only time will tell... and I'm here for the suspense 
!
its all so confusing. so from what i understand israel has been doin these air strikes in syria and people are worried that theyre tryin to take out the syrian military lol thats wild. but at the same time sharaa is like this new guy who took over syria and hes tryin to be all peaceful and stuff 
so idk what to think rn. but i guess its good news for the region or whatever? 
. And let's be real, who doesn't want more economic cooperation between these two nations? I mean, think of all the sweet deals they could make in Damascus 
. The Golan Heights thing is still a bit murky, but hey, at least they're talking about it 
. Trump's got some major street cred going on with his pal Tom Barrack and Syria's new leader al-Sharaa 
but idk if its all good 
. I mean, what if it's just Israel trying to keep an eye on Syria's military moves? 
and stability for the people living there 
. The US lifting sanctions is definitely a positive sign 
.
. And what about those air strikes? Will they be part of this new peace deal or just a separate thing? 
. On one hand, reducing tensions on the ground is always a good thing, but on the other hand, it's hard not to wonder if this is just a ploy by Israel to keep an eye on Syria's military capabilities 
I guess only time will tell if this new agreement is really all about reducing tensions or just a clever way to get ahead in the region 
I mean, think about it, two former adversaries coming together, reducing tensions on the ground... that's some serious progress right there! And let's be real, who doesn't love a good diplomatic effort? 
Plus, the fact that they're talking about economic cooperation and joint ventures is just the icing on the cake. I'm sure it'll be a win-win for everyone involved. And hey, who knows, maybe this will even pave the way for some new friendships between nations... a girl can dream, right? 
. And it's cool that Israel's being open to economic cooperation with Syria - like, you gotta think about the future here.
Not exactly the kind of thing that fills me with confidence.
I hope these two countries know what they're getting themselves into, because it's not going to be easy.