Israel and Syria Open Sixth Round of US‑Mediated Security Talks in Paris

Overview

• The two-day negotiations began in Paris with US special envoy Tom Barrack mediating between the delegations.
• Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad ash‑Sheibani leads Damascus’s team, while Israel is represented by its ambassador to Washington, Yehiel Leiter.
• A Syrian government source says discussions center on restoring the 1974 disengagement agreement and on a pullback of Israeli forces to positions held before December 8, 2024.
• Earlier reporting outlined a proposed framework that would demilitarize southern Syria in exchange for Israeli withdrawals, reflecting differing emphases among the parties.
• The talks resume after a roughly two-month pause following the resignation of Israel’s lead negotiator Ron Dermer, as the US presses for steps toward a non‑aggression pact and potential Syrian entry into the Abraham Accords.