Overview

• Syrian interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa announced indirect talks with Israel, mediated by unnamed parties, to prevent further escalation of hostilities and address security concerns.
• French President Emmanuel Macron emphasized the need for Syria to protect all religious minorities and prosecute those responsible for sectarian violence that left over 1,700 dead in March, primarily from the Alawite minority.
• Israel has intensified military actions in Syria, including hundreds of airstrikes and the establishment of a buffer zone in southern Syria to protect the Druze minority, with its Border Police now operating inside Syrian territory.
• The European Union has begun easing some sanctions on Syria, targeting sectors like energy and transport, contingent on the interim government’s ability to stabilize the country and protect vulnerable populations.
• The United Arab Emirates publicly denied involvement in mediating the Syria-Israel talks, contradicting reports suggesting its role in facilitating back-channel negotiations.