For the first time in over 25 years, Syrian state media admits direct talks with Israel — amid reports of a US-brokered security pact to be signed in September.
A stunning diplomatic development is emerging in the Middle East: Israel and Syria may be on the brink of signing a US-brokered security agreement, according to reports in Saudi-owned Independent Arabia and Sky News Arabia.
The deal is reportedly set for September 25, just one day after Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa delivers his first-ever address at the UN General Assembly in New York. While the agreement would not constitute a full peace treaty, it would establish a framework for reducing tensions and stabilizing borders between Jerusalem and Damascus.
Adding intrigue, Sky News Arabia claimed Washington is working to arrange a high-profile trilateral meeting next month between al-Sharaa, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and US President Donald Trump. The recent appointment of a new Syrian envoy to the UN with authority to negotiate is said to be tied directly to this effort.
Behind the scenes, significant diplomatic activity is unfolding:
- Paris Talks: Israeli Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer reportedly met this week with Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani, with US mediation.
- Key Disputes: Israel is pressing to maintain an IDF presence at strategic Syrian sites, including the Hermon radar station and Tel al-Hara in Quneitra.
- Stability Measures: Negotiations reportedly focused on border de-escalation, non-interference in Syria’s internal affairs, regional stability, ceasefire monitoring in the Druze Mountain, and a renewal of the 1974 disengagement agreement.
What makes this moment extraordinary is that Syria’s state news agency itself confirmed a meeting in Paris with an Israeli delegation — the first such acknowledgement in more than a quarter of a century.
If confirmed, the September signing could mark the most significant shift in Israeli-Syrian relations since the 1990s, with Washington positioned as the central broker.