Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa confirmed Wednesday that negotiations with Israel are underway to establish a security pact, raising hopes for a potential breakthrough after months of conflict.
Speaking in Damascus, Sharaa called the talks “a necessity,” stressing that any deal must respect Syria’s sovereignty and be monitored by the United Nations. The discussions follow heavy Israeli air and ground operations against Syrian forces and Iranian-backed militias since December, which Sharaa said have included more than 1,000 strikes.
The latest round of talks took place in London, with U.S. mediation. According to reports, Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani delivered a response to Israel’s proposals during a five-hour session with Israeli Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer.
While Sharaa expressed openness to a disengagement-style agreement modeled after the 1974 deal that followed the Yom Kippur War, he ruled out broader normalization with Israel for now. He also dismissed discussion of the Golan Heights, which Israel annexed in 1981 and the U.S. recognized as Israeli territory under Trump.
Any deal, Sharaa hinted, could be limited to security guarantees, troop withdrawals, and halting Israeli strikes — but would not extend to full peace. Still, the acknowledgment of talks marks a rare moment of direct engagement between the two long-hostile neighbors.
