Syria and Israel have held rare face-to-face talks in Paris aimed at reducing tensions following last month’s deadly violence in Sweida province.
Syrian Foreign Minister, Asaad al-Shaibani, met with Israel’s Strategic Affairs Minister, Ron Dermer, on Tuesday. Syria’s intelligence chief was also in attendance, according to Syrian state media.
The discussions, held under United States mediation, centred on de-escalation, Syria’s territorial integrity, and the situation in Sweida, which has witnessed clashes between Druze fighters, Sunni Bedouins, and government forces. The violence, which erupted on July 13, later drew in Israeli strikes.
Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to the unity of Syria, rejecting any attempt to divide the country. “Sweida and its Druze citizens are an integral part of Syria,” SANA quoted a government source as saying.
Talks also addressed the US-brokered ceasefire in Sweida and the need to strengthen humanitarian support for affected communities.
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Syria and Israel have technically been at war since 1948. Their forces are separated by a UN-patrolled buffer zone on the Golan Heights, established after the 1973 Arab-Israeli war. Syrian state television said the Paris meeting included discussions on reactivating the 1974 disengagement agreement to help prevent further hostilities.
The US envoy for Syria, Thomas Barrack, also confirmed he held separate talks with Israeli Druze spiritual leader, Mowafaq Tarif, on efforts to reduce tensions and promote stability.
Residents of Sweida have staged protests in recent weeks, accusing Damascus of blockades and demanding self-determination. Some demonstrators were seen waving Israeli flags, though Syrian authorities insist aid convoys have reached the area.
Tuesday’s meeting in Paris follows a similar round of talks between Shaibani and Dermer last month, with diplomatic sources confirming that earlier contacts also took place in Baku.
