Syria and Israel Hold Landmark Direct Talks in Paris in US-Brokered Push for Normalization

Key Takeaways

• Historic Direct Meeting: Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani met with an Israeli delegation in Paris on Tuesday, a rare and direct engagement publicly confirmed by Syria.

• US-Brokered Initiative: The talks were facilitated by the United States as part of a broader diplomatic push to foster stability between Israel and a post-Assad Syria.

• Core Objective: The immediate goal is to de-escalate recent hostilities and restore the 1974 ceasefire agreement that established a demilitarized zone between the two nations.

• Triggered by Recent Violence: The diplomatic push follows a surge in tensions, including Israeli airstrikes in Syria after violent clashes erupted in the southern Sweida province involving the Druze minority.

• Post-Assad Reality: The meeting marks a new era of engagement following the overthrow of Syrian President Bashar Assad in December, with Israel wary of the new Islamist-led government.

• Druze Community at the Center: The humanitarian crisis and security of Syria’s Druze population have become a central point of contention and a catalyst for international intervention.

A New Diplomatic Chapter: Syria and Israel Meet Face-to-Face

BEIRUT – In a significant and unexpected diplomatic breakthrough, Syria’s foreign minister met directly with an Israeli delegation in Paris on Tuesday to discuss de-escalating military tensions and potentially normalizing relations. The landmark talks, brokered by the United States, represent the first publicly acknowledged direct negotiations between the two historic adversaries in the new era following the collapse of the Assad regime.

Syria’s state-run SANA news agency confirmed the meeting, stating that Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani discussed restoring the 1974 ceasefire agreement with Israeli officials. This crucial deal, which has been frayed by years of conflict, established a demilitarized buffer zone monitored by U.N. peacekeepers in the Golan Heights.

While the Syrian statement offered no details on the outcome, a senior official from the Trump administration confirmed the talks were part of a wider strategy. “The United States continues to support any efforts that will bring lasting stability and peace between Israel and its neighbors,” the official told The Associated Press, citing President Donald Trump’s “vision of a prosperous Middle East.”

Context for a Crisis: A Changed Syrian Landscape

The high-stakes meeting comes against a backdrop of profound change and escalating violence. The overthrow of Syrian President Bashar Assad in a lightning rebel offensive in December has redrawn the geopolitical map. Israel, which has long viewed the Assad dynasty as a predictable foe, is now contending with a new government in Damascus led by former Islamist insurgents.

Immediately following Assad’s ouster, Israeli forces moved to secure their interests by seizing control of the U.N.-patrolled buffer zone and conducting airstrikes on military sites. Israeli officials have stated they will not permit hostile, Iranian-backed forces to establish a presence on their frontier, a hallmark of the later years of Assad’s rule.

The new Syrian President, Ahmad al-Sharaa, has publicly severed ties with his al-Qaida past and pledged to protect minorities. However, sporadic sectarian violence has raised international concerns about the stability of the new government.

The Sweida Flashpoint: A Catalyst for Intervention

The recent diplomatic urgency was largely triggered by a violent crisis in Syria’s southern Sweida province, home to the country’s Druze religious minority. Clashes last month between government forces and armed Druze groups led to allegations of severe human rights abuses.

Videos circulating online appeared to show government-aligned forces killing Druze civilians, including a U.S. citizen, and desecrating religious symbols. The violence prompted a swift and powerful military response from Israel, which views the Druze as a loyal minority within its own borders. Israeli jets launched dozens of airstrikes on Syrian military convoys and even struck the Ministry of Defense headquarters in Damascus in what it called an action to protect the Druze.

A fragile truce, mediated by the U.S., Turkey, and Arab nations, eventually halted most of the fighting, but the situation on the ground remains tense.

The Druze Plea for Help

The crisis has put the Druze community at the center of international diplomacy. U.S. envoy to Syria, Tom Barrack, confirmed meeting with Moafaq Tarif, the spiritual leader of the Druze in Israel, to discuss de-escalation. According to Tarif, the Druze are seeking U.S. assistance to end what they describe as a siege of Sweida city, secure humanitarian aid, and gain security assurances.

While historically wary of Israel, a growing number of Syrian Druze now see Israeli and American intervention as a potential lifeline. This shift was vividly illustrated when some protesters in Sweida were seen waving Israeli flags, an act that sparked outrage among many Syrians but highlighted the desperation of the minority group.

The talks in Paris, therefore, are not just about old border disputes but about shaping the future of a fragile, post-Assad Syria and preventing a wider regional conflict fueled by sectarian strife.