Overview
- A joint statement from the U.S., Israel and Syria announced a dedicated communication cell to coordinate intelligence sharing, military de-escalation, diplomatic engagement and potential commercial ties under U.S. oversight.
- Israeli and Syrian officials agreed to speed up negotiations, meet more frequently and pursue confidence-building measures after their fifth round of talks in Paris.
- Damascus is pushing to reactivate the 1974 disengagement agreement and wants an enforceable pullback of Israeli forces to positions held before December 8, 2024.
- A Syrian official said the talks produced an initiative to suspend Israeli military activity in Syria, a claim not confirmed by Israel.
- The push was driven by U.S. mediation led by envoy Tom Barrack and presidential pressure, with Washington casting progress as a step toward border stability and possible economic cooperation.