Syria Explores Options to Prevent Escalation with Israel Amid Rising Regional Tensions

In Damascus, Syrian officials are considering ways to avoid further escalation with Israel following recent heightened tensions linked to Israeli strikes in northern Syria and Syria's increasing military cooperation with Turkey. A Syrian source familiar with the leadership's stance told Kan News that after the Israeli attack, concerns grew about the potential expansion of Israeli strikes. The source emphasized that the current Syrian leadership seeks stability and aims to remain in power, avoiding giving Israel any pretext to disrupt that stability.

Earlier, Syrian Foreign Minister Faisal al-Miqdad (also referred to as Asaad al-Shibani) stated that Syria expects to resume talks with Israel soon regarding a security agreement. He noted that relations were severed after last week's Israeli strike and urged Israel to seize the "historic opportunity" for peace. According to al-Miqdad, the United States is pressuring Israel to return to negotiations, and with a halt to Israeli attacks, peace discussions could proceed. He added that earlier this year, both sides had nearly agreed on a security deal that would require Israel to stop strikes and withdraw from territories occupied since the fall of the Assad regime, including establishing a buffer zone with UN forces and Syrian military presence, but Israel had avoided implementing it.

The American news site Axios reported that Mossad chief David Barnea met with the Syrian foreign minister to reduce tensions following the Israeli strike on the Al-Douhour military airport between June 2 and 3. Israeli officials declined to comment on the report, but sources described the meeting as conducted in a "good spirit." The United States is actively mediating between the parties to continue negotiations on a non-aggression security pact.

Kan News also reported that despite the recent Israeli strike, Syria is not rushing to retaliate and draws encouragement from the US condemnation of the attack. A Syrian media source indicated the strike was largely a message to Turkey and served Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's internal political needs. The US envoy to Syria, Tom Barrett, condemned the strike, raising hopes that Washington will pressure Israel to cease such attacks. While the strike caused anger in Syria, it has not diminished Damascus's willingness to pursue a security agreement with Israel.

Additional reports mention Israel warning the US that Turkey is preparing to deploy radar systems in Syria, while Turkey denies having a presence at the Al-Douhour airport before the Israeli strike.