Syria-Israel Talks Will Face a Turkish Test

Syria and Israel are back at the negotiating table after a seven-month pause in talks over a potential security agreement. On August 23, Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani met with Mossad Director Roman Gofman in Jordan. The meeting, held under U.S. mediation, was aimed at defusing tensions following Israel’s August 18 strike on the Abu Duhur Air Base in northwestern Syria. The strike reportedly followed Israeli intelligence indicating that Turkey was seeking to deploy troops and radar systems at the base.

Israeli concerns about Turkish entrenchment in Syria have been clear since the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime in December 2024, given Ankara’s support for Hamas and its increasingly hostile rhetoric toward Israel. In July, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said that Israel had become “a burden that humanity can no longer bear.” Turkey has also developed a robust relationship with Damascus, signing a memorandum of understanding in August 2025 to train and equip the new Syrian armed forces.

The renewed Syrian-Israeli talks are therefore a significant step toward deescalation. They could provide a foundation for a security agreement that establishes clearer understandings over Turkish military activity in Syria and Israel’s security concerns. Significant gaps remain, however, particularly over how far Damascus is willing to accept Israeli restrictions on its military development and its security relationship with Ankara.

Damascus and Jerusalem Willing To Expand to a Broader Agreement

A diplomatic source told the Syrian Arab News Agency that the meeting sought to “reviv[e] negotiations to reach a security agreement that could serve as the basis for a more comprehensive future agreement.” This aligns with Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa’s remarks in July that “Syria is seeking a security agreement with Israel.”

Talks between the two sides have been stalled since January, after they agreed to a deconfliction mechanism intended primarily to prevent friction and misunderstandings. The subsequent Iran war, along with Israel’s negotiations with Lebanon, has likely delayed further in-person discussions over a broader agreement, and the deconfliction mechanism itself was limited in scope and lacked the tools needed to facilitate security cooperation. An unnamed Israeli source claimed that the meeting was “positive and productive” and that it will “create a mechanism for direct dialogue to resolve events on the ground.”

Turkey Will Remain a Major Obstacle

Yet despite the positive news, Syrian officials made clear that Damascus retains the right to “rebuild and develop” its army and determine its own “alliances and partnerships.” The statement was likely a response to Israeli demands regarding further Turkish entrenchment in Syria. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar said on August 22 that Israel would not “accept the establishment of Turkish bases in Syria.” Turkey has pulled its forces from smaller outposts in northern Syria and consolidated them in larger bases, such as the Taftanaz Air Base in Idlib Province and the Jabal Sheikh Aqil in Aleppo Province. Reportedly, Ankara also maintains more than 20,000 military and security personnel across northwestern Syria.

The Syrian leadership understands that this issue will remain a point of contention with Jerusalem. While Damascus may prioritize Turkish weapons and assistance for rebuilding its military over a permanent Turkish troop presence, it is difficult to imagine Syria quickly disentangling itself from the Turkish infrastructure and support networks already embedded in the country.

Washington Should Continue Facilitating Talks Between Jerusalem and Damascus

American deconfliction mechanisms have at times helped manage friction between Syria and Israel, but the events of last week revealed that such arrangements are not a durable solution. Washington should build on the current talks and push for a finalized framework that defines the relationship between Damascus and Jerusalem, not only to ensure deescalation but also to establish mutual understandings on the outstanding issues between the two countries, particularly Syria’s military buildup and the presence of foreign forces. Washington should also make clear to Damascus that Ankara should not be allowed to expand its military footprint in Syria in ways that could turn Syrian territory into a platform for Turkish pressure or military threats against Israel.

Ahmad Sharawi is a senior research analyst at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD). For more analysis from Ahmad and FDD, please subscribe HERE. Follow FDD on X @FDD. Follow Ahmad on X @AhmadA_Sharawi. FDD is a Washington, DC-based, nonpartisan research institute focusing on national security and foreign policy.