Syria and Israel have agreed to set up a joint communication channel after two days of United States-mediated talks in Paris, in the most significant formal step between the two countries in decades.

The mechanism, described as a “dedicated communication cell” and a joint fusion mechanism, will be supervised by the United States. A joint statement said it would allow the two sides to coordinate on intelligence sharing, military de-escalation, diplomatic engagement and commercial opportunities, and to resolve disputes quickly before they turn into clashes.

A third round of indirect talks

The Paris meeting was the third round of indirect talks between the longtime adversaries. It focused on reviving elements of the 1974 disengagement agreement that created a United Nations-monitored buffer zone between the two countries after the 1973 Middle East war.

Syria is seeking an Israeli withdrawal to the positions its forces held before December 2024, when rebel fighters toppled Bashar al-Assad and Israeli troops advanced deeper into Syrian territory. A Syrian official told Reuters the talks had concluded with an initiative to suspend all Israeli military activities against Syria, although there was no immediate confirmation from Israel.

What Damascus and Jerusalem want

The Syrian government, led by President Ahmed al-Sharaa, wants Israel to respect Syrian sovereignty, halt its strikes and stop interfering in domestic affairs. Israel, which has occupied the Golan Heights since 1967, has said its priority is its own security.

The joint statement said both countries were committed to pursuing lasting security and stability. Whether the new channel can stop the near-daily Israeli strikes on Syrian territory remains the first test.

Sources: Al Jazeera, The Media Line