Israel and Syria set up a US-supervised communication mechanism for military de-escalation

Al Jazeera
Al Jazeera
4h ago
Israel and Syria agreed to create a US-supervised “dedicated communication cell” to share intelligence and coordinate military de-escalation, with the mechanism also intended to support diplomatic engagement and commercial opportunities.
Israel and Syria set up a US-supervised communication mechanism for military de-escalation
A What happened
Israel and Syria agreed to set up a joint mechanism for sharing intelligence and coordinating military de-escalation under United States supervision. A joint statement said the “dedicated communication cell” would also facilitate diplomatic engagement and commercial opportunities and serve as a platform to address disputes promptly and prevent misunderstandings. Israeli and Syrian officials, including the Syrian foreign minister, held meetings in Paris on Monday and Tuesday as the US sought to get negotiations back on track. A Syrian official said moving forward on “strategic files” would be impossible without a clear and enforceable timeline for Israeli troop withdrawal from Syrian territory seized since the December 2024 overthrow of Bashar al-Assad.
★

Key insights

  • 1

    Syrian condition for progress on strategic issues: A Syrian official said it would be impossible to move forward on “strategic files” without a clear and enforceable timeline for Israeli troop withdrawal from Syrian territory seized since December 2024.

  • 2

    Mechanism framed as dispute-prevention tool: The joint statement said the communication cell would address disputes promptly and work to prevent misunderstandings.

  • 3

    US role in sustaining talks: The US Department of State said the mechanism would support immediate and ongoing coordination, and the US was described as attempting to get negotiations back on track.

Takeaways

Israel and Syria agreed to a US-supervised communication channel for intelligence sharing and military de-escalation while key disagreements over Israeli troop withdrawal and military activity remained unresolved.

Topics

World & Politics International Affairs Diplomacy Conflicts Security & Defense

Stay ahead with OwlBrief

Daily briefs that distill the world’s important events — clear, verified, and designed for understanding.

Create Free Account Sign In

Newsletter

Get OwlBrief in your inbox

A fast, high-signal digest of the day’s most important events — plus the context that makes them make sense.

Quick to read. Useful all day.