Syria and Israel Are Holding High-level Talks in Jordan Mediated by the United States, According to Syria's State News Agency SANA

The Turks are allies of the Syrians, and the United States mediated the talks. Israel carried out airstrikes on an unused airbase last week, reportedly to prevent Turkish soldiers from establishing a presence there. The Syrians said the talks aimed to balance the positions of Israel and Turkey while ensuring that the increased tension between them does not harm Syria.

Israel has conducted hundreds of strikes on Syria since December 2024, when Islamist forces toppled President Bashar al-Assad. reported that Syrian Foreign Minister Assad al-Shaibani and Roman Gofman, head of the Israeli intelligence agency Mossad, discussed establishing a special task force in Jordan under U.S. auspices to prevent conflict in Syria, including through Turkish intervention. A heated exchange of barbs has taken place between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan since the strike on the airbase.