In a significant diplomatic development, Syrian and Israeli officials have concluded what participants described as a “positive” fifth round of U.S.-mediated security negotiations in Paris. The talks, held on Tuesday, marked a rare engagement between two nations lacking formal diplomatic relations.
Delegations from both countries agreed to intensify their dialogue schedule and implement confidence-building measures following the Paris meeting. An Israeli official characterized the discussions to Axios as fundamentally constructive, noting that “both countries expressed a desire to reach a security agreement under President Trump’s vision for the Middle East.
The high-level Israeli delegation included Ambassador to Washington Yechiel Leiter and Acting National Security Adviser Gil Reich. Syria’s representation featured Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani and intelligence chief Hussein Salameh. The U.S. mediating team comprised Syria envoy Tom Barrack alongside presidential advisers Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner.
These negotiations occur against a complex historical backdrop. Israel has maintained control of Syria’s Golan Heights since 1967, a occupation unrecognized by international law. The territorial situation further evolved following the contraction of Bashar al-Assad’s government, with Israel expanding its presence in southern Syria. In December 2024, Israeli forces assumed control of the entire UN-patrolled buffer zone on Mount Hermon that previously separated military forces in the Golan Heights.
According to Syria’s state news agency Sana, Damascus seeks guaranteed Israeli withdrawal from positions held before December 8, 2024, through a reciprocal security agreement ensuring full Syrian sovereignty. The Paris discussions have additionally focused on revitalizing the 1974 Disengagement Agreement, which originally established a UN-monitored buffer zone following the 1973 Yom Kippur War.
President Trump reportedly emphasized to Prime Minister Netanyahu during their December meeting in Florida the necessity of achieving tangible progress toward a comprehensive agreement, adding diplomatic urgency to these unconventional negotiations between longstanding adversaries.