The announcement came just hours after Israeli warplanes reportedly carried out new airstrikes in Syria’s coastal provinces of Tartus and Latakia, hitting a range of military targets.
Syria has confirmed the commencement of indirect negotiations with Israel, aimed at reducing Israeli military strikes that have intensified across Syrian territory in recent months. The announcement, made by Hamza Al-Mustafa, head of Syria’s information authority, marks a rare acknowledgement of contact — even if indirect — between the two long-hostile neighbours.
Speaking at a press conference following a cabinet meeting chaired by interim Syrian leader Ahmad Al-Sharaa, Al-Mustafa stated that discussions are underway, focusing on the enforcement and potential reactivation of the 1974 Disengagement Agreement, which was brokered after the Yom Kippur War to maintain calm along the Golan Heights front.
“These indirect negotiations reflect the government’s desire to protect Syrian sovereignty and reduce the toll of continuous Israeli military aggression,” Al-Mustafa said. “Our focus remains on preserving national stability while pushing forward with reform and reconstruction.”
The announcement came just hours after Israeli warplanes reportedly carried out new airstrikes in Syria’s coastal provinces of Tartus and Latakia, hitting a range of military targets, including a former special forces base, weapons depots, and positions near civilian infrastructure.
According to Syrian state media and the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, the Friday night attacks struck sites in the al-Wuhaib industrial zone and the al-Blata military barracks in Tartus. In Latakia, Israeli missiles reportedly targeted the Mina al-Bayda port and the 107th Brigade base. The village of Zama in the Jableh countryside also witnessed airstrikes, sparking concern about the proximity of the attacks to populated areas.
The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) later confirmed the strikes, stating they had targeted missile storage facilities that posed a threat to both Israeli and international maritime navigation. There were no immediate reports of casualties, and Syrian defence authorities have yet to release an official statement.
These raids are part of an ongoing Israeli campaign to dismantle what it claims are Iranian military entrenchments and weapons transfers within Syria. Since the start of 2025, the Israeli military has reportedly launched more than 50 attacks on Syrian territory, including at least 44 airstrikes. Many have targeted key Syrian infrastructure, including air defence systems, missile launchers, and command posts.
Earlier this month, Israel carried out what the Syrian Observatory called the most intense air assault of the year, striking more than 20 locations across six provinces. That operation left dozens injured and severely damaged facilities near Damascus, including areas close to the Harasta Military Hospital and Mount Qasioun.
Against this turbulent backdrop, Syria’s interim government appears to be pursuing both diplomatic and domestic pathways to stabilisation. Al-Mustafa said that President Al-Sharaa’s administration is pushing a broad reform agenda focused on economic recovery, governance transparency, and institutional restructuring.
“The president has described this moment as a ‘battle against poverty,’ and we are acting on that principle across education, employment, and human development,” Al-Mustafa told reporters. “We are also updating financial laws to improve investor confidence and simplify the business climate.”
He added that the interim government had received early-stage investment commitments, including from Saudi Arabia, and would soon unveil a package of development initiatives specifically targeting “liberated areas” and regions earmarked for refugee return.
As part of its legislative overhaul, Syria’s interim administration is forming a transitional parliamentary body tasked with reviewing and potentially amending decades-old laws. Al-Mustafa said the aim is to align Syria’s legal framework with its long-term vision for modern governance and to root out corruption at all levels of public administration.
One of the most anticipated reforms lies in the forthcoming state budget for 2025, which, according to Al-Mustafa, will include “substantial wage increases” to ease the burden on public sector employees struggling with inflation and economic hardship.
Despite the reform efforts, the continued Israeli airstrikes remain a central obstacle. Syrian officials believe any sustainable economic recovery and national reconciliation process must be accompanied by a reduction in external military pressure.
Whether the indirect talks with Israel will bear fruit remains uncertain. Previous rounds of engagement — often mediated through third parties such as the United Nations or Russia — have yielded limited success. Trust between the two countries remains almost non-existent, with Syria accusing Israel of violating its sovereignty and Israel maintaining that its actions are defensive in nature, primarily aimed at curtailing Iranian influence.
Nonetheless, regional analysts suggest that both sides may see benefit in reducing direct confrontation. “Israel doesn’t want a full-scale escalation, and Syria is trying to keep the focus on rebuilding,” said Rana Kassem, a Middle East policy expert at the Centre for Strategic Dialogue. “These indirect talks, though fragile, could serve as a starting point for a broader regional de-escalation.”
For now, Syria continues to walk a delicate tightrope: advancing domestic reforms, seeking foreign investment, and managing the daily realities of war — all while hoping that diplomacy might, eventually, bring a respite from the skies.
