Syria, Israel Hold First Direct US-Brokered Talks in Paris

Syria's Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani met with an Israeli delegation in Paris in US-mediated talks aimed at de-escalating tensions following the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad's regime and subsequent regional instability. The discussions focused on enforcing a ceasefire in the Druze-majority Sweida province, where sectarian violence and Israeli airstrikes have intensified, and restoring the 1974 ceasefire agreement that established a buffer zone between Syria and Israel. Israeli Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer led the Israeli side, with the talks marking the first acknowledged direct negotiations between the two countries, which have been strained by Israel's deeper incursions into Syrian territory and occupation of strategic areas. The US, under President Donald Trump's administration, supports these efforts as part of a broader vision for a stable Middle East and peaceful relations between Syria and Israel. Meanwhile, allegations of violations against the Druze community in Syria and calls for a US-supervised humanitarian corridor in Sweida underscore ongoing tensions and humanitarian concerns. Both Damascus and Tel Aviv continue to assert their positions, with Syria demanding enforcement of the disengagement agreement and Israel citing security concerns over hostile forces near its borders.