Israeli and Syrian officials have direct discussions
Israeli and Syrian officials have direct discussions
Israel and the new Syrian regime have recently held direct discussions, as an Israeli source reports. This indicates changing dynamics between the former enemies, while Israel is expanding its military presence in the country.
Details of the conversations
The talks took place in Azerbaijan and were visited by the head of the surgical department of the Israeli army, Brigadier General Oded Basyuk. According to the source, Basyuk met Syrian government representatives in the presence of Turkish officials.
The Israeli forces and the Turkish government asked CNN to comment on the talks.
indirect conversations and reactions
The interim Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa recently said that his government has indirect discussions with Israel to stop attacks on his country, "so that things do not escalate so far that both sides lose control."
So far, there is no information from Damascus about direct discussions with Israel. The source did not name any topics of the meeting, nor who acted as an intermediary. The broadcaster Channel 12 in Israel first reported on the meeting.Trump's meeting with Sharaa
This week, US President Donald Trump met Saudi Arabia on Sharaa-a former jihadist who was classified as a terrorist in 2013. Trump promised to loosen the stressful sanctions against the Bashar al-Assad regime. Assad was overthrown during an uprising where Sharaa played a leading role and fled from Syria in December.
The White House said Trump asked Sharaa to take a number of measures. This includes the normalization of relationships with Israel, the designation of foreign and Palestinian "terrorists" and a collaboration with the US
Development of Israeli military presence
After the Assad regime has fallen, Israel More territory in Syria taken and carried out several attacks that aim to restore the military skills and to eliminate militant groups that could threaten the security of Israel. Israel's advance in Syrian territory was initially described as temporarily, but Officiaelle representatives have now declared that the military presence will be permanent.
Israel also explained a buffer zone in southern Syria with the aim of protecting the Drusian minority in Syria. In addition, Israel occupies the Golan heights, which it conquered by Syria in 1967 and later annexed it.
US sanctions and economic perspectives
The US Ministry of Finance announced on Thursday that it works in accordance with Trump's instructions on the sanctions against Syria and aims to issue the necessary permits that are crucial for new investments in Syria.
In a contribution to X, it was added that the “Ministry of Finance can contribute to rebuilding the economy, the financial sector and the infrastructure of Syria and bringing the country to a bright, wealthy and stable future.”
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio preceded the United States that the United States is issued by sanctions against Syria, but are not fully lifted for the time being. "If we make progress, we will hopefully be able to go to the congress and ask for the final cancellation of the sanctions," said Rubio in Antalya, Türkiye. He added that the Trump administration ultimately planned to lift the exceptions, since the prospect of sanctions withdrawing every six months has a deterrent effect on investments.
An Israeli official previously announced that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Trump asked not to lift sanctions against Syria, since he feared that this could lead to a repetition of the events of October 7, 2023 than to attack the militias of Israel.
The reporting was supported by CNNS Mostafa Salem, Jennifer Hansler and Kylie Atwood.