Syria and Israel in direct talks focused on security: Sources tell Reuters
The contacts mark a significant development in ties between states that have been on opposite sides of conflict in the Middle East for decades, as the U.S. encourages the new Islamist rulers in Damascus to establish relations with Israel and Israel eases its bombardment of Syria.
They also build on back-channel talks via intermediaries since Islamist rebels Hayat Tahrir al-Sham toppled Syrian strongman Bashar al-Assad in December, said two Syrian and two Western sources, as well as a regional intelligence source familiar with the matter.
The sources spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the subject for two nations with no official ties and a history of enmity. The direct talks and their scope have not been previously reported.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
L'Orient-Le Jour
5 hours ago
- L'Orient-Le Jour
Lebanese court sentences man to death for killing of UNIFIL peacekeeper; Israeli FM says Palestinian state now would be 'Hamas state'
12:44 Beirut Time The disaster in Gaza is reminiscent of famines in Ethiopia and Biafra, according to the UN The humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza is reminiscent of famines in Ethiopia, Biafra, and Nigeria in the last century, the U.N. World Food Program (WFP) said, quoted by AFP. "This is unlike anything we've seen in this century. It reminds us of the catastrophes in Ethiopia or Biafra in the last century," Ross Smith, WFP's emergency director, told reporters in Geneva from Rome, stressing the need for "urgent action." 12:17 Beirut Time Man accused of killing Irish peacekeeper Sean Rooney in 2022 sentenced to death A Lebanese court sentenced a man to death in absentia for the murder of an Irish peacekeeper in 2022, a case in which Hezbollah was accused of involvement, a judicial official told AFP. "The military court in Lebanon delivered its verdict on Monday night in the case of the murder of Irish soldier Sean Rooney ... and handed down a death sentence in absentia against the main accused, Mohammad Ayyad," said the official, who requested anonymity. 12:10 Beirut Time Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said at a press conference on Tuesday that a Palestinian state created now would be a "Hamas state" and a "jihadist state." Referring to the two-state solution conference currently taking place in New York, he said that no Palestinian state would be established for the time being, adding: "Israel will not be the Czechoslovakia of the 21st century." The minister also said that "international pressure is directly undermining the chances of reaching a ceasefire and a hostage agreement" between Israel and Hamas, and that this pressure has only "hardened Hamas's position" during recent negotiations. According to Saar, 5,000 trucks of humanitarian aid have entered the Gaza Strip over the past two months. He added that Jordan and the United Arab Emirates are participating in the humanitarian aid airdrop operations that Israel has initiated and implemented. Asked about a possible Israeli annexation of parts of the Gaza Strip, Saar declined to comment, calling such discussions "internal." 11:59 Beirut Time Iran denies interference in Hamas-Israel talks Iran denied U.S. President Donald Trump's accusations of interfering in negotiations between Israel and Hamas for a cease-fire in Gaza, AFP reported. Donald Trump claimed Monday that Iran "interfered" in recent negotiations between Israel and Hamas and that Tehran was sending "very bad signals." "I think [the Iranians] have interfered in these negotiations by giving orders and signals to Hamas, and that's not good," Trump said during a trip to Scotland. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghai called President Trump's allegations "totally baseless" on Tuesday. Hamas "defends the interests of the oppressed people of Gaza in the most appropriate way and does not need third-party intervention in this regard," Baghai wrote in a statement, criticizing the United States for sending "deadly weapons to the occupation regime." 11:53 Beirut Time Israel rejects international pressure for a cease-fire in Gaza, AFP reported. 11:38 Beirut Time Worst-case famine scenario underway in Gaza Strip, says IPC report The "worst-case famine scenario is underway in the Gaza Strip" due to intensified fighting, massive population displacement and restrictions on humanitarian aid, according to the IPC (Integrated Food Security Phase Classification) report released Tuesday, AFP reported. The humanitarian crisis in the Palestinian territory, ravaged by nearly 22 months of war, "has reached an alarming and deadly turning point," said the report, the result of the work of non-governmental organizations, regional institutions and specialized U.N. agencies. The recently authorized airdrops of food supplies by Israel "will not be sufficient to reverse the humanitarian catastrophe," the document warns, adding that these airdrops are more expensive, less effective, and more dangerous than road deliveries. Last May, the consortium, which determines the level of food insecurity according to five levels, classified 1.95 million inhabitants of the Gaza Strip (93 percent of the total) in a situation of "crisis" (level 3), including 925,000 in level 4 (emergency) and 244,000 in a situation of disaster (level 5). A new quantified analysis of the situation is underway, the report said. 10:43 Beirut Time Residents have observed intensive Israeli drone flights over Bint Jbeil, Kharayeb, Zararieh, Aadloun, Rihan, Aishieh, Jabbour, Jarmak, Aadsheet, Shaqra, Mahmoudieh, Zahrani, Habboush, Sarafand, Maarakeh, Tyr Diba, Wadi Jilou, Bazourieh, Abu al-Aswad, Qasmieh, as well as several villages in the Marjeyoun district, according to L'Orient Today's correspondent in the region. 10:12 Beirut Time Good morning! Thank you for joining us for our live coverage. Be sure to read the Morning Brief so you are caught up with what has been happening. Two-state solution conference begins as Israel bombs Gaza and one killed in Bint Jbeil: Everything you need to know this Tuesday Israeli ministers Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich will no longer be allowed to travel to the Netherlands, which accuses them of repeatedly inciting violence against Palestinians and calling for "ethnic cleansing" of the Gaza Strip. The Dutch government announced it will summon the Israeli ambassador to the Netherlands to denounce the "unbearable and indefensible" situation in Gaza. It also imposed travel bans on the two far-right ministers, as detailed in a letter published Monday evening. The Dutch government was considering imposing sanctions on two Israeli ministers for their incitement to extremist violence and violations of Palestinian human rights since June. The Israeli army claimed responsibility for Monday's strike that targeted a motorcycle in Bint Jbeil. " The IDF struck and eliminated a terrorist in Hezbollah's artillery force in the area of Bint Jbeil in southern Lebanon," the army said, without elaborating. During the night, Israeli helicopters flew over several Israeli towns located on the border with Lebanon, opposite the western, central and eastern sectors, according to L'Orient Today's correspondent. This morning, an Israeli reconnaissance plane flew over the villages of Zahrani. 10:12 Beirut Time Hamas "must relinquish control" of the Gaza Strip and lay down its weapons, Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa pleaded Monday at the U.N. General Assembly, AFP reported. "We affirm that the State of Palestine is ready to assume full responsibility for governance and security in Gaza, with Arab and international support... Hamas must return its control over the Gaza Strip and hand over its weapons to the Palestinian Authority," he said, echoing commitments made in June by President Mahmoud Abbas in a letter to France and Saudi Arabia, which are chairing a conference on the two-state solution in New York this week. The Israeli Prime Minister's Office issued a statement in English on Monday evening on X, stating that Israel will continue to work with international organizations to ensure the delivery of significant humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip. "As part of this effort, Israel has suspended [Israeli army] operations in key populated areas of Gaza from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily, and designated secure routes from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. to ensure the safe passage of more aid convoys," the statement said. 10:12 Beirut Time In the U.K., the government will meet today to discuss several issues, including the situation in Gaza, according to several news agencies. The prime minister shared plans he was working on with France and Germany to "build lasting peace" with U.S. President Donald Trump during their meeting in Scotland, Downing Street said, adding that he plans to share details with Arab states and other key allies in the coming days. Keir Starmer is facing growing pressure to immediately recognize Palestinian statehood. The prime minister's spokesperson said: "This week, the Prime Minister is focused on a path to peace to ensure immediate relief for those on the ground, as well as a lasting route to a two-state solution." 10:12 Beirut Time Palestinian activist shot dead by settlers, according to the Palestinian Authority The Palestinian Authority announced Monday that an anti-Israeli occupation activist in the West Bank had been shot dead by settlers, with Israeli police citing an ongoing investigation, without confirming a murder. "The Ministry of Education ... and the teaching community mourn the martyrdom of Awdah Muhammad Hathaleen," the ministry said on social media. "The teacher ... was shot dead by settlers on Monday, July 28, 2025, during their attack on the village of Um al-Khair" near Hebron, in the southern West Bank, it added. Israeli police had earlier reported an ongoing investigation following an "incident near the town of Carmel," a settlement neighboring Um al-Khair. "An Israeli citizen was arrested at the scene and then detained by police for questioning ... Following the incident, the death of a Palestinian was confirmed. His exact involvement in the incident is being verified," the statement said. Hathaleen was a resident of the Massafer Yatta area, south of Hebron. Along with neighbors, he had helped highlight the plight of this region, which Israel had declared a military zone. He was also a member of the team that filmed the Oscar-winning documentary "No Other Land." President Joseph Aoun met Prime Minister Nawaf Salam in Baabda, according to a message published on X, without further details for the moment. The president is due to fly to Algiers later today. 10:12 Beirut Time Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea warned Tuesday in an interview with Asharq Al-Awsat of the Lebanese authorities' failure to resolve the issue of Hezbollah's weapons, which have become "useless for the protection of Lebanon and only bring damage and destruction." He also said that Lebanon faces two options: either a government decision to dissolve the armed organizations, or having to face a "hot summer," or at best, "a nasty summer." 10:12 Beirut Time Clashes erupted Monday evening in the village of al-Masriya, near the Syrian-Lebanese border, between the Abu Jabal tribe and members of Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham, leaving several people injured, according to L'Orient Today's correspondent in the region. Gunfire was also heard in the border areas around Hermel.
LBCI
5 hours ago
- LBCI
Hamas must surrender Gaza control, disarm, Palestinian PM says
Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa said Monday that Hamas must disarm and give up control of Gaza to the Palestinian Authority to restore security in the war-torn territory. "Israel must withdraw completely from the Gaza Strip and Hamas must relinquish its control over the strip and hand over its weapons to the Palestinian Authority," Mustafa said at a conference on the two-state solution for Israel and the Palestinians at the United Nations in New York. AFP
LBCI
16 hours ago
- LBCI
Israel threatens Hamas amid ceasefire talks and rising international pressure—the details
Report by Amal Shehadeh, English adaptation by Mariella Succar Israel has kept up the intensity of its threats against Hamas, despite a daytime humanitarian truce and the possibility that negotiations over a ceasefire and hostages exchange deal may soon be within reach. While the Israeli army continues operations in designated areas of Gaza and maintains a widespread deployment across the territory, Defense Minister Israel Katz reiterated his threat to turn Gaza into 'hell' if Hamas does not release the hostages. Under the truce, which lasts from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Israeli forces are restricted from carrying out military operations — a measure that has drawn sharp criticism from members of the governing coalition and right-wing lawmakers. They oppose the suspension of efforts to evacuate around 600,000 Palestinians from large areas of the enclave as part of what Israel calls the 'humanitarian city' plan. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu continues to balance efforts to preserve his coalition government while easing international pressure. Israel has also launched a campaign targeting the United Nations' stance on what it calls the starvation of Gaza, ahead of a U.N. meeting on Monday. The meeting comes amid a joint French-Saudi initiative aimed at recognizing a Palestinian state — a move that Israel views as unilateral and unlikely to shift its opposition to a two-state solution ahead of a planned summit in September.
