ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Syria and Israel have decided to establish a cell to communicate under the US supervision following the latest meeting in Paris, said the three countries in a joint statement on Tuesday.
The statement said Syria and Israel “have decided to establish a joint fusion mechanism—a dedicated communication cell—to facilitate immediate and ongoing coordination on intelligence sharing, military de-escalation, diplomatic engagement, and commercial opportunities under the supervision of the United States.”
Damascus and Tel Aviv resumed negotiations on Monday after a four-month pause, Syrian state media reported, adding that the Washington-mediated talks focus on de-escalating tensions along their shared borders and involve senior diplomatic and intelligence officials.
The statement added that both sides “reaffirm their commitment to strive toward achieving lasting security and stability arrangements for both countries,” noting that the mechanism will “serve as a platform to address any disputes promptly and work to prevent misunderstandings.”
“The United States commends these positive steps and remains committed to supporting the implementation of these understandings,” the statement said.
Israel captured most of the Golan Heights from Syria during the 1967 Six-Day War. A US-brokered disengagement agreement in 1974 established a UN-monitored buffer zone intended to reduce tensions by separating Syrian and Israeli forces, without formalizing peace.
A statement from the Israeli Prime Minister’s office said that during the meetings, Tel Aviv “emphasized the importance of ensuring the security of its citizens and preventing threats along its borders,” and reiterated “its commitment to promoting regional stability and security, as well as the need to advance economic cooperation for the benefit of both countries.”
“It was agreed that the dialogue will continue in order to advance common goals and to ensure the safety of the Druze minority in Syria,” the statement added.
Following the ouster of longtime Syrian ruler Bashar al-Assad in early December 2024, Israel intensified strikes targeting Syria’s military stockpiles and deployed forces into areas east of the Golan Heights buffer zone. Israeli officials have said the moves are aimed at preventing security vacuums from being exploited by the Islamic State (ISIS), al-Qaeda, or Iran-aligned armed groups.
According to Syria’s state-run Arab News Agency (SANA), the current round of talks is focused on “reactivating the 1974 Disengagement Agreement” and ensuring the withdrawal of Israeli forces to the lines in place prior to December 8, 2024.
Updated at 10:04 pm.