Under U.S. Pressure, Syria Hastens Security Talks with Israel Amid Territorial Tensions

In a bid to curtail recent Israeli land seizures, Syria is urgently engaging in security talks with Israel. This move, spurred by U.S. pressure, aims to forge a security pact that could calm ongoing disputes, though it stops short of a comprehensive peace treaty, according to sources.

The U.S. hopes to facilitate enough progress by the upcoming U.N. General Assembly to allow former President Donald Trump to claim a diplomatic breakthrough. However, the intricacies of the discussions reflect deep-rooted tensions, with Syria aiming to regain control over seized territories while maintaining a demilitarized buffer zone.

Syria and Israel have a fraught history, being technically at war since 1948. The talks, which involve Israeli reluctance to cede recent gains, notably exclude discussions on the Golan Heights. Both nations continue to wrestle with internal and external pressures impacting these delicate negotiations.