US news website Axios reported on Sunday, August 23, that a high-level meeting took place in Jordan between Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani and Mossad chief Roman Gofman.
The meeting was aimed at reducing tensions between Damascus and Tel Aviv following an Israeli strike on the Abu al-Duhur airbase in the Idlib countryside (northwestern Syria).
Axios cited three sources familiar with the meeting, saying it took place days after the Israeli airstrike that heightened tensions between Syria and Israel.
The website did not disclose details of the discussions, but said the meeting was intended to contain the escalation and prevent tensions between the two sides from rising further, amid continued disagreements over military and security developments inside Syria.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office declined to comment on the meeting, while a spokesperson for Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani did not immediately respond to Axios’ request for comment.
According to Israel’s Channel 12, a source familiar with the details of the meeting said the talks between the two sides “were productive,” marking the first publicly reported Israeli assessment of the meeting.
The meeting came days after Israel struck the Abu al-Duhur military airbase in northwestern Syria. Israel said the strike was linked to concerns over possible Turkish military activity at the site, while Damascus denied any intention to establish a Turkish base or permanently deploy Turkish forces there.
Al-Shaibani had told Axios after the strike that Damascus had made clear to Israel that the site would remain under Syrian sovereignty.
Damascus Expects Negotiations to Resume
Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani gave an interview to Reuters, published on Sunday, August 23, in which he said Damascus was seeking de-escalation in the region and the resumption of dialogue with Israel, despite the lack of trust between the two sides.
The Syrian foreign minister outlined Damascus’ position on negotiations with Israel amid rising tensions between Tel Aviv and Ankara, which have had repercussions inside Syria.
At the same time, he stressed that Syria would not abandon Turkish support, expressing gratitude for Turkey’s assistance in rebuilding the Syrian army.
Al-Shaibani said Syria expects negotiations with Israel over a security agreement to resume soon, expressing hope that an agreement would lead to Israel’s withdrawal from Syrian territory.
Al-Shaibani added that the Israeli government had tried to ensure its security through brute force but had not succeeded anywhere. He said no date had been set for the resumption of negotiations, despite continued US efforts to pressure Israel to return to the negotiating table.
He said the Syrian government had high hopes of building stable relations with its neighbors, despite the difficulty of placing trust in Israel, adding that Damascus was extending its hand in pursuit of understanding, peace, diplomacy, and regional stability.
Al-Shaibani urged the Israeli side to seize a “historic opportunity” while the door to diplomacy remained open. He stressed that Damascus’ priority was to stop Israeli attacks and that confidence-building measures were needed in that direction.
He said negotiations over the security agreement had been frozen since the start of the war with Iran, but expected them to resume. He added that contacts between Syria and Israel had been cut off following the airstrike on the Abu al-Duhur airbase in Idlib.
Despite the suspension of contacts, the Syrian foreign minister said he believed communication was necessary, particularly with a party that constantly threatens Syria’s security. However, he added that Damascus would have no need for such contact if it produced no results, given its lack of trust in the Israeli government.