Syria has quietly held talks with an Israeli spy chief to “defuse tensions” after an airbase bombing that threatened to open a new front in the regional conflict, Axios reported on Sunday.
Foreign Minister Asaad Al Shibani meanwhile said Syria expects negotiations to resume soon on a security agreement that would involve Israel withdrawing troops from Syrian territory.
Peace hopes were cast into doubt last week when Israel bombed a military airfield in northern Syria, claiming Turkish forces were operating there. Israel also occupies territory in southern Syria and periodically carries out attacks.
According to Sunday's report, Mr Al Shibani met the Mossad boss Roman Gofman in a bid to “lower the temperature” after the strike on the airbase. There was no confirmation from Israeli or Syrian officials.
Mr Al Shibani, though, told Reuters in an interview that a “historic opportunity” remained open for an agreement between Israel and Syria.
“We believe there should be contact, especially with a party that constantly threatens the security of Syria,” he said. “But if this contact doesn’t bring results, then we don’t need it. We do not trust Israel currently.”
The fallen Syrian regime of Bashar Al Assad was a close ally of Israel's foes Iran and Hezbollah. The new government under President Ahmad Al Shara has expressed willingness to talk to Israel while condemning many of its actions.
The US has been leading a push for a security deal that has so far proven elusive. While Syria is not expected to join the Abraham Accords and fully recognise Israel, it could make concessions to Israeli demands for a buffer zone.
American envoy Tom Barrack criticised last week's Israeli strike, calling it an unnecessary escalation. Commenting further in an interview with podcast host Mario Nawfal, Mr Barrack suggested Israel may have been “baiting the Turks”.
While Israel appears to remain open to talks with Syria, the airbase bombing has worsened tensions with Turkey. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu last week described Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan as an “anti-Semitic dictator” seeking to “extend his aggression” against Israel.
