Israel-Syria Reportedly Contact Reduction Of Tensions

JAKARTA - Israel and Syria are in direct contact and in recent weeks have held face-to-face meetings aimed at easing tensions and preventing conflict in the border area between the two sworn enemies.

Citing five sources, Reuters reported the contact marked significant developments in relations between countries that have been on the opposing side of the conflict in the Middle East for decades.

US President Donald Trump previously encouraged the new Islamic rulers in Damascus to establish ties with Israel and Israel to reduce its bombings in Syria.

They have also been building talks through back lines through intermediaries since Islamist rebel Hayat Tahrir al-Sham toppled Syrian strong leader Bashar al-Assad in December.

The sources spoke on condition of anonymity because of the subject's sensitivity to two countries that have no official relations and have a history of hostility.

Live talks and coverage have never been reported before.

On the Syrian side, the sources said contacts had been led by senior security official Ahmad al-Dalati, who was appointed governor of Quneitra province, which borders Israel's occupied Golan Heights, following the fall of Assad.

Earlier this week, Dalati was also tasked with maintaining security in the southern province of Sweida, home to the Syrian Druze minority.

Reuters could not confirm who participated on the Israeli side, although two sources said they were security officials.

Three sources said several live meetings took place in border areas, including in Israeli-controlled territory.

Israel's foreign ministry and Syrian officials did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Earlier this month, Syrian interim president Ahmed al-Sharaa confirmed indirect talks with Israel that he said were aimed at easing tensions.

Israel has occupied the Syrian Golan Heights since the 1967 Arab-Israeli war and taken more territory after Assad was ousted in December, citing ongoing concerns over the country's new rulers' extremist past.

Israel also launched an air bombing that destroyed most of the country's military infrastructure, while at the same time lobbying Washington to keep the country weak and decentralized.

However, bombings and criticism have eased in recent weeks.

On May 14, a meeting between US President Donald Trump and Sharaa in Riyadh changed US policies for decades in Syria and signaled to Israel's far-right government that they should try to reach an understanding with Sharaa.

Regional intelligence sources describe Trump's involvement with Sharaa as an important part of rearranging US policies that destabilize Israel's post-Assad strategy exploiting Syrian fragmentation.