Israeli, Syrian officials met secretly in Baku
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Israeli and Syrian officials reportedly met in Baku as part of changing regional talks, as "Israel" now views Damascus more favorably after engagement between US-Syria.
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Syria's interim president, Ahmad al-Sharaa, listens during a joint press conference with French President Emmanuel Macron after a meeting at the Elysee Palace in Paris on May 7, 2025 (AP)
Senior Israeli military and security officials held a covert meeting with top interim Syrian government representatives in Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth revealed on Thursday.
According to the report, the head of the Israeli occupation forces' Operations Directorate, Major General Oded Basiuk, along with officials from the Israeli National Security Council, participated in the meeting as part of broader regional discussions involving Turkey on the evolving situation in Syria.
The paper described the talks as part of a noticeable shift in the official Israeli tone and policy toward Syria’s transitional government and its interim president, Ahmad al-Sharaa. This shift reportedly became more evident after al-Sharaa shook hands with US President Donald Trump during a recent summit in Saudi Arabia.
'Israel' attacks Syria, claims for minorities
Previously, the Israeli occupation had treated the new Syrian administration with suspicion, even accusing al-Sharaa of atrocities against Alawite and Druze communities and launching strikes near the presidential palace in Damascus. However, with US efforts now underway to lift sanctions on Syria, Israeli officials are viewing the changing landscape with cautious optimism.
According to Yedioth Ahronoth, the Israeli occupation sees the possible normalization of Syria’s international standing as an opportunity to distance Damascus from the Axis of Resistance and potentially bring Syria into future normalization agreements. The paper also pointed to the regime's key interests in Syria, including the protection of Druze communities and the demilitarization of areas south of Damascus.
Meanwhile, in Turkey, Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani expressed gratitude to his Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan and US envoy Marco Rubio following what he called a "fruitful and constructive" trilateral meeting.
Syria seeks improved US ties
In a statement posted on X, Shibani announced the establishment of a strategic framework to advance relations with the United States, emphasizing that such steps serve the interests of the Syrian people and enhance the country’s regional and international presence.
“Syrians are looking forward to a bright future,” Shibani said. “We are working with full force to open new horizons of security, stability, and prosperity.”
The developments mark a potentially significant shift in the diplomatic calculus surrounding Syria, as multiple actors, including the Israeli occupation, Turkey, and the US, recalibrate their positions in response to changing regional alliances and political leadership in Damascus.
US announcement worries 'Israel'
The new Syrian interim president traveled to Paris earlier this month for talks with President Macron, who indicated European sanctions on Syria could be gradually eased, provided that Damascus demonstrates a commitment to implementing legal and democratic reforms.
While other nations like Britain had already started easing sanctions and the US had allowed allies, including Saudi Arabia and Qatar, to provide aid to Syria in recent months, a complete lifting of US sanctions remained unexpected as supporters maintained this pressure was necessary to guarantee al-Sharaa's genuine reform and cooperation with Washington.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu may fear a widening rift with Trump, especially as Arab leaders, who will also push Trump to end the war on Gaza, seek to exploit the divide, The Times said in a Wednesday report.
'Israel' wants demilitarization
The Times highlighted that "Israel" had worked to keep al-Sharaa isolated and launched airstrikes on Syria amid his crackdown on Syria's Druze minority while setting up a "security zone" along the border after al-Assad's fall. Additionally, "Israel" urged the demilitarization of southern Syria all the way to Damascus.
Instead, they witnessed Trump shake hands with al-Sharaa on Wednesday, following the president's unexpected announcements that he would begin negotiations with Iran and halt the US air campaign against Yemen's Ansar Allah, decisions that caught "Israel" completely off guard.
