ALBAWABA- In a historic diplomatic breakthrough, Israel and Syria have agreed to establish a joint “fusion mechanism” to coordinate intelligence sharing, military de-escalation, diplomatic engagement, and economic cooperation, U.S. officials announced following high-level talks in Paris.
The accord, brokered under U.S. auspices, emphasizes “lasting security and stability arrangements,” aiming to safeguard Syria’s sovereignty, strengthen Israel’s security, and promote mutual prosperity.
While the agreement does not explicitly reference the 1974 disengagement deal along the Golan Heights, its focus on border security and rapid dispute resolution builds on the longstanding framework.
U.S. President Donald Trump was credited for facilitating the discussions, which were described as “productive” and focused on fostering cooperation in sectors such as energy, agriculture, and medicine.
Key participants included Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani, Israeli officials Ambassador Yechiel Leiter and military secretary Roman Gofman, and U.S. envoys Tom Barrack, Steve Witkoff, and Jared Kushner. Barrack called the agreement a “breakthrough” likely to accelerate confidence-building measures between the two nations.
The announcement coincided with a separate Paris meeting between Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and al-Shaibani on the sidelines of the “Coalition of the Willing” summit on Ukraine, highlighting overlapping diplomatic efforts and U.S. attempts to stabilize the region amid shifting alliances.
The agreement reflects post-Assad rapprochements following the regime’s collapse in December 2024. Since then, Israel and Syria’s transitional government have engaged in U.S.-mediated talks addressing demilitarization of southern Syria, Israeli withdrawals from occupied Syrian areas, and the potential establishment of joint command centers in Amman, Jordan.
