Israeli and Syrian interim officials reportedly held talks in Azerbaijan

In a potentially historic development, senior figures from Israel and the Syrian interim government have reportedly engaged in direct discussions in Azerbaijan, according to an Israeli source cited by CNN and initially reported by Channel 12.

Among the Israeli officials allegedly present was Major General Oded Basyuk, head of operations for the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF), who is also said to have met with Turkish officials during the same trip. While the Israeli military denied any direct interaction with Syrian representatives when questioned by CNN, it did not deny that talks took place in Azerbaijan.

These revelations come shortly after Syrian interim president Ahmad el-Chareh confirmed that indirect negotiations between the two states had been underway, reportedly with mediation from the United Arab Emirates.

A Framework for Normalization?

According to the Jerusalem Post, the talks are said to include potential mutual recognition, the establishment of diplomatic relations, and a formal end to hostilities between the two historically adversarial states. If confirmed, such developments could mark a major geopolitical shift in the Middle East.

This diplomatic thaw coincides with a bold move by former U.S. President Donald Trump, who recently announced the lifting of American sanctions on Syria. Trump, who remains an influential voice in U.S. foreign policy, publicly urged President el-Chareh to join the Abraham Accords and normalize relations with Israel.

“I told him, once he stabilizes Syria, normalization with Israel should follow,” Trump said on Wednesday.

El-Chareh, for his part, has signaled cautious openness to dialogue. While avoiding any immediate commitment to full normalization, he reaffirmed Syria’s adherence to the 1974 disengagement agreement with Israel—an agreement that had been violated following the fall of the Assad regime in December 2024.

Though still unofficial and largely speculative, these developments hint at a new chapter in Syrian-Israeli relations—driven by geopolitical pragmatism, shifting alliances, and international pressure for reconstruction and stability in post-Assad Syria.