Syria and Israel hold US‑mediated talks in Jordan to reduce tensions

Syria’s foreign minister, Walid al-Moallem, met with Israeli officials in a discreet diplomatic session in Damascus on Thursday, following an Israeli airstrike that struck a military target near the Turkish border. The meeting, conducted at the Syrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, aimed to de‑escalate tensions in the region and prevent further escalation after the strike, which Israel said was in response to a rocket launch from the Golan Heights.

Al‑Moallem expressed concern over the potential for a broader conflict, urging both sides to exercise restraint and to engage in dialogue. Israeli representatives, who did not disclose their identities, emphasized that the strike was a defensive measure and that Israel remains committed to maintaining stability in the area. The discussion also touched on the broader security situation along the Syria‑Turkey border, where Turkish forces have been active in supporting Kurdish militias.

While the talks did not result in a formal agreement, officials indicated that a framework for continued communication would be established. The meeting is seen as a step toward preventing a spill‑over of violence into neighboring Turkey and the broader Middle East, as both governments seek to manage the fragile security environment in the aftermath of the recent strike.