Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa has confirmed that Syria is holding indirect talks with Israel through a backchannel set up in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Al-Sharaa said the talks began after his visit to the UAE on April 13. “There are indirect talks with Israel through mediators to calm and attempt to absorb the situation so that it does not reach a level that both sides lose control over,” he told reporters during a visit to Paris on Wednesday.
He added that: “the Israeli intervention (military incursion into Syrian territory) constitutes a violation of the 1974 agreement” between Israel and Syria, and stressed that he has remained committed to honoring the agreement since taking office.
Syrian president Jolani in Paris pic.twitter.com/lHSoMfwTWp
— Polymarket Intel (@PolymarketIntel) May 7, 2025
The talks between Syria and Israel were first reported by Reuters, which cited sources claiming the discussions are aimed at preventing further escalation in Syria.The talks are reportedly limited to technical and counterterrorism issues. Military matters, especially Israeli army activity in Syria, are not part of the discussions.
In recent days, Israel carried out airstrikes in Syria in response to threats against the Druze minority. Syria condemned these strikes, including one that landed just 500 meters from the presidential palace in Damascus last week.
Meanwhile, the UAE denied any role in mediating the talks. “The claim that the UAE is ‘mediating secret talks’ between Syria and Israel is categorically false,” said Lana Nusseibeh, Assistant Foreign Minister.
The reported indirect talks mark the first known communication between Syria and Israel since Al-Sharaa became Syria’s interim president in January. The Israeli government has not yet commented on the development.
