Syria Confirms Indirect Talks with Israel to Defuse Tensions Amid Escalating Airstrikes
“There are indirect negotiations taking place through mediators to ease the situation and try to contain it before it reaches a point where neither side can control it,” al-Sharaa said in response to a journalist’s question.
By Ahora Qadi
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – Syrian transitional president Ahmed al-Sharaa revealed on Wednesday that indirect negotiations are underway with Israel through mediators in an effort to de-escalate mounting tensions, following hundreds of Israeli airstrikes targeting military infrastructure across Syria in recent months.
Answering questions from journalists alongside French President Emmanuel Macron at the Élysée Palace, al-Sharaa acknowledged the sensitive nature of the backchannel dialogue, stressing that it aims to prevent the situation from spiraling out of control.
“There are indirect negotiations taking place through mediators to ease the situation and try to contain it before it reaches a point where neither side can control it,” al-Sharaa said in response to a journalist’s question.
Damascus Calls for Pressure to Halt Israeli Incursions
Al-Sharaa urged countries with direct lines to Tel Aviv to exert diplomatic pressure on Israel to halt what he described as repeated violations of Syrian sovereignty. “We are trying to speak with every country that has ties with Israel, asking them to press for an end to their interference in Syrian affairs, including breaches of our airspace and attacks on our facilities,” he stated.
Since the fall of former president Bashar al-Assad in December 2024, Israel has intensified its military operations inside Syria, citing concerns that the former regime’s military stockpiles could fall into the hands of what it calls the "jihadist" new authorities.
Israeli forces have also advanced beyond the demilitarized buffer zone in the Golan Heights, periodically pushing deeper into southern Syrian territory.
UN Observers Urged to Return to Demarcation Line
The Syrian leader also called on the UN Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) to re-establish its presence along the “blue line,” emphasizing that UN peacekeepers have recently conducted multiple visits to Damascus. He insisted on a return to the agreed-upon boundaries to prevent further friction between the two sides.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that over 120 people were killed in the unrest, prompting Israel to issue warnings and launch a strike near the presidential palace.
Following the airstrike, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant issued a joint statement: “This is a clear message to the Syrian regime. We will not permit the deployment of Syrian forces south of Damascus, nor any threat to the Druze community."
Macron Denounces Israeli Actions, Backs De-escalation Efforts
Al-Sharaa noted that he had thoroughly discussed the issue of Israeli aggression with President Macron, saying: “Israel bombed Syria more than 20 times just last week under the pretext of protecting minorities. These are dangerous developments.”
Macron reiterated France’s commitment to supporting Syria’s stability and stressed the need for dialogue and restraint across the region to prevent a wider conflagration.
