Syria foreign minister sees Israel security talks resuming despite no trust

InternationalSyria foreign minister sees Israel security talks resuming despite no trustBy Reuters -Aug 23, 2026Add ARY News on GoogleSyrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani, speaks during an interview with Reuters in Damascus, Syria, August 22, 2026. REUTERS/Khalil AshawiAAResizeDAMASCUS: Syria expects negotiations to resume soon with ​Israel over a security deal it hopes will lead to Israel’s withdrawal from Syrian land, a top Syrian minister said, urging Israel to seize a “historic opportunity” ‌as the door for diplomacy is open. In a Reuters interview in Damascus on Saturday, days after Israel bombed a Syrian airbase, Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani also stressed that Damascus’ priority is to halt Israeli attacks, saying confidence-building steps were needed in this direction. Washington has been seeking to forge a security deal between Israel and the government of Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, a new U.S. ally in the Middle East, for over a year. But it ​has proven elusive as Israel has sent troops into Syrian territory and attacked government assets, citing threats to its security. Shaibani said negotiations over the security agreement had been frozen ​since the start of the Iran war, but he expected them to restart. Contact between Syria and Israel was cut after the airbase strike, he ⁠said. “We believe there should be contact, especially with a party that constantly threatens the security of Syria. But if this contact doesn’t bring results, then we don’t need it,” Shaibani said. “We ​do not trust Israel currently.” The Israeli prime minister’s office did not respond to a request for comment. U.S. PRESSURE Sharaa has said Syria poses no threat to other countries, with Damascus focused on rebuilding from ​14 years of war. Israeli officials have talked about a range of potential dangers in Syria since Bashar al-Assad was toppled, with some describing the new rulers as barely disguised jihadists last year, even as Sharaa forged close U.S. ties. In the da...