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Syria and Israel engaged in high-level talks mediated by the United States in Jordan on Sunday, aiming to ease tensions exacerbated by recent Israeli strikes on Syrian territory. The discussions, reported by Syria's state news agency SANA, centered on practical measures to halt Israeli strikes, arrests, and targeted operations. A key objective was to revive negotiations for a security agreement that could pave the way for a broader future accord.

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Damascus expected security negotiations with Israel to resume soon, although he added that there was a lack of trust between them.

Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani met with Roman Gofman, head of Israel's Mossad intelligence agency. Shaibani had previously indicated that security negotiations with Israel were expected to resume soon, despite a noted lack of trust between the two nations. Talks had been suspended since the start of the Iran war, with Syria cutting off contact after Israeli strikes on Syria’s Abu al-Duhur airbase. Washington has been working for over a year to broker a security agreement between Israel and the Syrian government.

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Syria indicated that its immediate priorities remained an Israeli withdrawal to positions held before Bashar al-Assad's overthrow on December 8, 2024, and the full restoration of a 1974 disengagement agreement.

During the talks, Syria emphasized its immediate priorities: an Israeli withdrawal to pre-December 8, 2024 positions and the full restoration of a 1974 disengagement agreement. Damascus also stated it would not accept arrangements that restrict its right to rebuild its armed forces or determine its alliances. While Syria reiterated that the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights are Syrian territory, discussions on the region's final status were deemed premature. Israel has conducted repeated strikes on Syrian military sites, citing security concerns, while Syria denies posing a threat and demands an end to Israeli actions. The two nations have technically been at war since 1948.

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Damascus also told the Israeli delegation it would not accept arrangements restricting its right to rebuild and develop its armed forces or determine its alliances and partnerships.