Israel and Syria Hold Secret Talks in Azerbaijan Amid UAE-Led Regional Initiative
Israeli Military Officials Meet Representatives of Syria’s New President in Quiet Diplomacy Aimed at Reshaping Middle East Alliances
Watan-Israeli media revealed that secret talks are currently taking place between Israel and the new Syrian administration as part of a UAE-mediated regional peace initiative.
According to Israel’s Channel 12, one of the key meetings was recently held in Azerbaijan and brought together Major General Oded Basyuk, head of the Israeli army’s Operations Directorate, with representatives close to Syrian President Ahmad Al-Sharaa, along with Turkish officials.
The channel described the talks as surprising, especially given Israel’s previous stance on the new Syrian leadership, where it had avoided any direct contact with Al-Sharaa and previously referred to him as a “terrorist in a suit.”
Channel 12 noted that Tel Aviv is now considering a new direction that could significantly impact the security situation on its northern border and help distance Syria from the Iran–Hezbollah axis.
“In the least,” said the channel, “Israel is now studying a new path that may deeply affect the northern front and pull Syria away from the Iran–Hezbollah alliance.”
Sources within Israel’s defense establishment clarified that in addition to the potential for Syria’s integration into regional initiatives like the Abraham Accords, there is also a possibility of positive shifts in Israel’s complex relationship with Turkey, which is playing an active role in these discussions.
The channel confirmed that while these efforts remain in their early stages, they hold the potential for tangible impact on reshaping the regional order in the Middle East.
In the same context, the Hebrew daily Haaretz reported that “high-ranking Israeli security officials” held meetings in recent months with their counterparts in President Ahmad Al-Sharaa’s administration.
The newspaper cited an unnamed regional source as saying, “The meetings focused on introductory engagement aimed at establishing a channel for message exchange and preventing regional escalation.”
These developments come amid rapid regional shifts. On Wednesday, U.S. President Donald Trump met with Syrian President Ahmad Al-Sharaa in Riyadh after announcing his intention to lift U.S. sanctions on Damascus.
Earlier this month, during a joint press conference with French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris, Al-Sharaa confirmed that Damascus is engaged in indirect negotiations with Israel via mediators.
