Everything you need to know about the Syria – Israel deal in Paris

In Paris on Tuesday, mediated by the US, Syria and Israel agreed to establish a "dedicated communication cell" for intelligence sharing and military de-escalation. This mechanism aims to address disputes and prevent misunderstandings following a year of negotiations prompted by Israeli attacks on Syrian military infrastructure after the fall of the Assad regime in December 2024. Syria seeks the reactivation of the 1974 Disengagement Agreement, demanding the withdrawal of Israeli forces to pre-2024 lines and a guarantee of non-interference in its internal affairs. Israel's objectives reportedly include securing more land, protecting minorities, and maintaining long-term leverage in the region, with some reports suggesting support for figures opposed to the current Syrian government.

U.S.-mediated talks between Syria and Israel resumed in Paris on Tuesday, aiming to reduce tensions along their border. The discussions, led by American special envoy Thomas J. Barrack Jr., focus on reviving a UN-patrolled buffer zone between the two countries' forces. The Syrian delegation, headed by Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani and intelligence chief Hussein al-Salama, is seeking Israeli withdrawal from territory seized after the fall of Bashar al-Assad's government in 2024. These talks are part of an effort by Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa to gain international support and signal a more conciliatory approach to Israel. A security deal could also help both countries gain favor with the Trump administration, which has been pushing for a U.S.-brokered agreement. Syria and Israel have been officially at war since 1948, with the Golan Heights remaining a key point of contention.

In Paris, a Syrian delegation led by Foreign Minister al-Shaibani and General al-Salama is meeting with Israeli counterparts under U.S. mediation to negotiate a security deal. The talks, reported by Syrian state news agency SANA on January 5, 2026, aim to address Israeli breaches of Syrian sovereignty since the fall of Bashar al-Assad. Syria seeks to reactivate the 1974 Disengagement Agreement, ensuring Israeli withdrawal to pre-December 2014 positions and preventing interference in Syrian affairs. Recent Israeli incursions, arrests, and air raids in southern Syria, particularly in the Quneitra governorate, have fueled public unrest. The negotiations prioritize full Syrian sovereignty and an equitable security agreement.

On Tuesday, January 6, 2026, twelve Israeli military vehicles entered the village of Saida al-Golan in the Quneitra countryside of southern Syria. This incursion occurred while Syrian and Israeli delegations were engaged in U.S.-mediated negotiations in Paris. According to Syrian state news agency SANA, the talks aimed to restore Syria's national rights. Since the fall of Bashar al-Assad, Israel has expanded its occupation beyond the Golan Heights and conducted frequent raids and bombardments in southern Syria. These actions, including near-daily incursions involving arrests and land bulldozing, have caused public anger. According to ACLED, Israel has launched an average of nearly two attacks a day across Syria over the past year.