Syria announced on Tuesday that it is collaborating with the United States to establish “security understandings” with Israel. This effort is part of a larger plan to restore stability in the country’s south after weeks of sectarian violence in Sweida province. The Syrian foreign ministry confirmed that Washington, in coordination with Damascus, will work toward agreements with Israel to address the security concerns of both nations.
A Syrian military official told AFP that, in compliance with Israeli demands for demilitarization, heavy weapons have been removed from southern Syria over the last two months. This withdrawal reportedly extends up to 10 kilometers outside of Damascus. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had previously stated that his government was involved in talks to create a demilitarized zone in the south, an area where Israeli forces have conducted military operations since former Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad’s regime fell in December.
Violence in Sweida and Israeli Involvement
The recent unrest began in July with clashes between Druze fighters and Sunni Bedouin, which escalated to include government forces and tribal militias. Citing concerns for its own Druze community and the need to enforce demilitarization, Israel launched air strikes on Syrian government targets. According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, the violence resulted in over 2,000 deaths, including 789 Druze civilians who were allegedly executed by forces from the defense and interior ministries.
‘Historic’ Measures Supported by the US and Jordan
Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani unveiled a plan backed by the US and Jordan to stabilize Sweida. He pledged to secure justice for victims, provide compensation to those affected, and initiate a process of reconciliation. Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi stated that a trilateral mechanism would oversee the plan’s implementation, while US envoy Tom Barrack described these measures as “historic.” In an effort to rebuild local trust, Syria has appointed a Druze figure, Suleiman Abdel Baqi, as Sweida’s new internal security chief.
Diplomatic sources have confirmed that Syrian and Israeli officials have already met multiple times, with another meeting scheduled in Baku, Azerbaijan, later this week. Last month, Syrian media reported that Minister al-Shaibani met with Israeli Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer in Paris to discuss de-escalation. Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa recently stated that the ongoing negotiations are aimed at reaching a security deal that would lead to Israel’s withdrawal from areas it has occupied in recent months.
