Syria Confirms Secret Meeting with Israeli Intelligence Officials in Jordan

The Syrian Foreign Ministry in Damascus has confirmed a recent meeting between Syrian Foreign Minister Assad al-Shibani and senior Israeli intelligence officials, including Mossad chief Ronen Gophman, held in Jordan. The meeting also involved Syria's head of general intelligence and military intelligence. This encounter marked the resumption of negotiations between Jerusalem and Damascus following an Israeli airstrike on a Syrian airbase that had escalated tensions.

According to the Syrian Foreign Ministry, the discussions focused on halting Israeli attacks and renewing a security agreement between the two countries. Syria emphasized the need to reduce tensions between Israel and Turkey to prevent spillover into Syrian territory. The ministry also stated that while the Golan Heights is recognized by Syria as occupied Syrian land, talks on its status should be deferred to a later stage.

Syria demanded that Israel withdraw its forces to positions held before December 8, 2024, as a precondition for further progress. The Syrian delegation also made clear that it would not agree to any deal restricting its military development or alliances with other nations. Behind the scenes, a senior U.S. official revealed that Israel had informed Washington of Turkey’s plans to deploy weapons systems at the Syrian airbase, with U.S. authorities acknowledging the accuracy of Israeli intelligence despite initial critical reactions to the Israeli strike.

The meeting represents a significant diplomatic effort to ease regional tensions and revive security negotiations between Israel and Syria, with further talks expected to address contentious issues at a later time.