Syrian and Israeli Officials Hold Talks in Baku

In a rare and significant diplomatic development, representatives from Syria and Israel met in person over the weekend in Baku, Azerbaijan. The encounter took place on the sidelines of Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa’s visit to the country, marking a potential thaw in relations between two long-standing adversaries.

A diplomatic source based in Damascus, speaking on condition of anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the meeting, confirmed the face-to-face interaction. While President Sharaa did not attend the session himself, the discussions reportedly centered on recent Israeli military activities within Syria.

From Hostility to Tentative Dialogue

The meeting signifies a considerable departure from past relations, which have been fraught with hostility, particularly following Sharaa’s rise to power after the December ousting of former Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad. Initially, Israel expressed deep reservations over Sharaa’s administration, branding it as extremist due to his former affiliations with al-Qaida.

However, despite these initial tensions, diplomatic engagement now appears to be underway. The dialogue comes in the context of ongoing Israeli military operations in Syria. Since Assad’s fall, Israel has conducted numerous airstrikes aimed at preventing advanced weapons from falling into the hands of Sharaa’s Islamist-aligned government. It has also bolstered its ground presence in the buffer zone along the Golan Heights—a United Nations-monitored area established by a 1974 disengagement agreement between the two countries.

Sharaa’s government, while insisting that it seeks no conflict with its neighbors, has publicly urged the international community to pressure Israel to halt its air raids. Syrian officials have recently confirmed indirect communication with Israel regarding a return to the disengagement pact and restoration of calm along the Golan front.

Signs of Broader Diplomatic Momentum

Tensions aside, momentum seems to be building toward broader regional engagement. In late June, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar publicly expressed interest in pursuing normalization with Syria—an idea that, according to Syrian state media, remains premature.

Yet American officials have echoed the notion that movement is occurring behind the scenes. U.S. special envoy to Syria, Tom Barrack, stated during a visit to Lebanon this week, “The dialogue has started between Syria and Israel.” His comments align with earlier remarks from U.S. President Donald Trump, who revealed that he had discussed normalization prospects with Sharaa during a meeting in Riyadh this past May. “(Sharaa) said yes. But they have a lot of work to do,” Trump noted.

Sharaa’s diplomatic visit to Baku also included bilateral talks with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev. The two leaders discussed cooperation in the energy sector, and Azerbaijan subsequently announced that it would begin exporting natural gas to Syria via Turkey. This move signals growing economic coordination between Baku and Damascus, both of whom enjoy strong ties with Ankara.