Syria, Israel Negotiating Security Deal Following Assad Ouster

Syria's interim president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, has confirmed ongoing negotiations with Israel aimed at reaching a security agreement to restore the status quo prior to the December 8, 2024 overthrow of Bashar al-Assad. The talks focus on Israel withdrawing troops from areas it occupied in southern Syria and the UN-monitored buffer zone on the Golan Heights, a long-contested region annexed by Israel in 1981 but not internationally recognized. Al-Sharaa emphasized Syria's commitment to the 1974 disengagement agreement and called for the return of UN peacekeepers to the area, while Israel has intensified airstrikes and military operations in Syria, citing security concerns and protection of minorities like the Druze. Despite decades of hostility and official war status since 1948, these negotiations—mediated by the United States in recent direct talks—seek to de-escalate tensions and establish mutual security guarantees without normalizing relations. Al-Sharaa also accused Israel of attempting to destabilize Syria and expressed Syria's desire for peaceful relations with regional neighbors. The dialogue represents a significant diplomatic development amid ongoing conflict and regional instability.