Israeli and Syrian officials hold talks in Azerbaijan
On Sunday, Israeli and Syrian officials held a rare face-to-face meeting in Baku, on the sidelines of Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa's visit to Azerbaijan, a diplomatic source in Damascus told AFP.
According to the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, al-Sharaa did not personally attend the meeting, which focused on Israel's recent military activity in Syria.
Ahead of the meeting, Israeli media outlets reported Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani and senior security liaison Ahmed al-Dalati were participating, along with a special envoy from Prime Minister Netanyahu and top Israeli military and intelligence officials.
The talks were expected to cover Iran's influence in Syria and Lebanon, Hezbollah's weapons stockpiles, armed Palestinian factions, and the future of Palestinian refugees in Lebanon and Gaza, and the possible establishment of an Israeli coordination office without formal diplomatic status in Damascus.
Damascus recently acknowledged indirect talks with Israel focused on restoring the 1974 disengagement agreement that created the Golan buffer zone. Meanwhile, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar indicated a potential policy shift late last month, saying Israel is open to pursuing a peace and normalization agreement with Syria.
Israel, a key arms supplier to Azerbaijan and a prominent diplomatic actor in the Caucasus, has carried out hundreds of airstrikes in Syria since the fall of Bashar al-Assad in December. Israeli forces also entered the UN-monitored buffer zone on the Golan Heights, conducting further operations in southern Syria.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Shafaq News
37 minutes ago
- Shafaq News
Iraqi Trade Ministry denies links to Wasit fire
Shafaq News – Wasit On Thursday, the Iraqi Ministry of Trade clarified that it has no connection to the hypermarket where a devastating fire broke out in Wasit. In a statement, Ministry Spokesperson Mohammed Hanoun expressed condolences to the victims' families, stressing that the commercial center 'is not affiliated with the Ministry in any form.' He also urged "accuracy in the handling of public information." Earlier, a massive fire swept through a major shopping complex in the city of Kut, the capital of Wasit province. According to the Civil Defense, the blaze killed over 60 people, including women and children.
Shafaq News
an hour ago
- Shafaq News
Iraqi leaders mourn victims of Wasit fire
Shafaq News – Wasit (Updated: 11:47) On Thursday, Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, Iraq's top Shia cleric, offered condolences to the families of those killed in a devastating fire in Wasit province. In a statement, Ayatollah al-Sistani expressed deep sorrow over the 'tragic fire,' which claimed dozens of lives and left many others injured. He prayed for mercy upon the victims and strength for their grieving families. بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم(إنا لله وإنا اليه راجعون)أعزاءنا أهالي الكوت الكرامالسلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاتهوبعد: فقد تلقينا بمزيد من الأسى والأسف نبأ حادث الحريق المفجع في أحد مراكز التسوق بمدينتكم العزيزة، الذي أودى بحياة العشرات من روّاده وتسبب في إصابة أعداد كبيرة أخرى،… — العتبة الحسينية المقدسة (@imamhussainorg) July 17, 2025 Meanwhile, National Wisdom Movement (Al-Hikma) leader Ammar al-Hakim condemned what he called a 'recurring pattern of neglect,' urging authorities to address Iraq's chronic lack of safety measures and to hold those responsible accountable. For Muqtada al-Sadr, head of the Patriotic Shiite Movement (PSM), the tragedy exposed deeper systemic failures. 'The disaster exposes their corruption,' he said, referring to the country's political class. The Dhi Qar Provincial Council also expressed profound sorrow, and in honor of the victims, the council declared a three-day official mourning period. The blaze erupted early Thursday inside a large hypermarket in the city of Kut. Witnesses said the flames spread rapidly, trapping dozens of shoppers and employees inside. According to the Interior Ministry, 61 civilians were killed—most of them from smoke inhalation after being trapped in bathrooms. Fourteen bodies were burned beyond recognition. Civil Defense teams rescued more than 45 others in what officials described as a 'heroic effort.' In response, Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani ordered an immediate and thorough investigation to determine the cause of the fire and identify any negligence. He also dispatched a fully equipped emergency medical team to support hospitals treating the injured. وجّه رئيس مجلس الوزراء السيد محمد شياع السوداني، السيد وزير الداخلية بالتواجد الميداني في موقع حادث الحريق المؤسف في مدينة الكوت، والتحقيق الفوري في الأسباب والظروف المحيطة، وإجراء تحقيق فني دقيق لكشف أوجه التقصير، واتخاذ كل ما يلزم من إجراءات صارمة لمنع تكرار مثل هذه الحوادث.… — المكتب الإعلامي لرئيس الوزراء 🇮🇶 (@IraqiPMO) July 17, 2025
Shafaq News
3 hours ago
- Shafaq News
Syria's Al-Sharaa affirms Druze unity amid Suwayda violence
Shafaq News – Damascus Syria's transitional resident, Ahmad Al-Sharaa, declared on Thursday that the Druze community remains a vital part of Syria's social fabric and dismissed any notion of territorial division, amid deadly unrest in Suwayda province. In a televised address, Al-Sharaa affirmed that the protection of Druze rights is a state priority, warning against attempts to draw the community into foreign influence or internal fragmentation. The comments come after weeks of violent clashes between Druze groups, government forces, and tribal gunmen, leaving over 350 people dead, including 79 Druze fighters and 55 civilians, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. Al-Sharaa framed the violence as driven by 'unlawful armed groups' that refused mediation efforts and deliberately escalated tensions. However, rather than relying solely on military response, Syrian authorities, according to him, have tasked local factions and Druze religious leaders with securing the province, a move presented as 'a national safeguard to prevent broader conflict.' The transitional president also accused Israel of exploiting the instability to destabilize Syria from within, referencing recent Israeli airstrikes that killed 15 government personnel. Israel's actions, he warned, aim to sow chaos and fracture Syrian unity at a moment when the country is still navigating post-war recovery. 'Syrian leadership remains committed to national integrity, holding violators accountable, and ensuring that the events in Suwayda do not derail fragile stabilization efforts.'
