According to reports citing unnamed sources, Israel and Syria have recent held direct security talks with one another. The talks are said to have happened in the wake of indirect talks between the two sides involving intermediaries, which have been confirmed.
The reports say that the direct talks involved a group of Syrian personnel including Ahmed al-Dalati, formerly the appointed governor of Quneitra Governorate who just this week was also put in charge of security in the Suwaiya Governorate.
The talks are meant to reduce the scope of the ongoing Israeli invasion and occupation of southwest Syria. Israel invaded Syria in December, after the ouster of the Assad government by the Islamist Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS). Israel and the HTS have been engaged in secret talks since April.
While the secret talks have been confirmed repeatedly, the report of direct talks didn’t go well in Syria, as many who are angry at the ongoing Israeli invasion objected to the idea of talks while Israel is continuing to occupy parts of Syrian territory and carrying out substantial attacks there.
Dalati issued a statement denying he participated in any direct talks, calling the allegations of his involvement “baseless” and lacking in credibility. He insisted that the government would take all necessary steps to protect Syria’s sovereignty.
Assuming the talks are actually happening, it’s a positive step for Israel-Syria relation. The HTS had expressed interest in normalizing relations with Israel even before they managed to seize power, though that effort has struggled so far with the active Israeli invasion and constant condemnations of the HTS government by top Israeli officials. Even if Israel doesn’t want to admit it, if they are secretly holding direct talks, it’s clearly a possible step toward ending their latest round of aggression against Syria.
