Israel Proposes New Security Agreement With Syria; Damascus Insists on Returning to 1974 Pact Rizik Alabi / The Media Line [Damascus] A source from the Syrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs told The Media Line that Damascus is holding talks with the United States, with Jordan’s participation, to discuss security arrangements with Israel in southern Syria. […]
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The Media Line: Israel Proposes New Security Agreement With Syria; Damascus Insists on Returning to 1974 Pact
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Israel Proposes New Security Agreement With Syria; Damascus Insists on Returning to 1974 Pact
Rizik Alabi / The Media Line
[Damascus] A source from the Syrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs told The Media Line that Damascus is holding talks with the United States, with Jordan’s participation, to discuss security arrangements with Israel in southern Syria.
This comes just days after media leaks suggested that Israel submitted a comprehensive proposal to divide the area into three security zones southwest of Damascus, including a no-fly zone and an expansion of the buffer zone by two kilometers inside Syrian territory.
The source told The Media Line that any security understanding with Israel must be based on the 1974 disengagement agreement and must preserve the sovereignty of the Syrian Arab Republic and the unity of its territory. The source added that the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the areas they entered after the fall of the previous regime in December 2024 is a fundamental condition for any agreement.
According to diplomatic sources cited in the media, the Israeli proposal sets out three separate security levels. The first would cover areas closest to the border, where the presence of the Syrian army and heavy weapons would be barred, though police and internal security forces could operate. The second would apply to a middle zone, where limited forces could be stationed and joint monitoring mechanisms established. The third would encompass the outer areas, where a regular Syrian military presence would be allowed, subject to possible and Jordanian oversight.
The proposal also includes a no-fly zone for Syrian aircraft near the border, a measure Israel views as reducing security risks on its territory.
The 1974 disengagement agreement, established after the October 1973 war, serves as the legal reference between the two parties. The agreement created a demilitarized zone under the supervision of the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force to reduce military tensions between Syria and Israel.
However, relations between Syria and Israel have long been marked by tension. Southern Syria is regarded as a sensitive security area, particularly after the deadly events in As-Suwayda in July that left hundreds dead and displaced tens of thousands. This situation prompted Washington and Amman to take part in negotiations aimed at preventing chaos from spilling across their borders.
Observers note that if the new agreement is implemented, it could help ease border tensions and restore the U.N.’s role in the buffer zone. Yet several obstacles remain.
The first involves Syrian sovereignty, as Damascus rejects any arrangement it sees as infringing on its authority or implying recognition of Israeli control over the Golan. A second challenge concerns Israeli withdrawal, since Damascus has set this as its main condition, but the demand may face delays or only partial acceptance. The third obstacle is political trust: Relations between the two sides have not advanced to the point of mutual recognition, leaving any agreement fragile and vulnerable to collapse.
Diplomatic sources indicated that negotiations may include high-level meetings in external locations, such as Baku, under sponsorship, to bridge differences and facilitate the drafting of a roadmap to restore stability in southern Syria. Damascus is carefully reviewing the Israeli proposal and preparing its own amendments and suggestions to ensure national sovereignty and border security.
Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani is scheduled to discuss the new security agreement proposal with Israel’s Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer during a meeting next Wednesday in London, as part of efforts to reconcile views on possible security arrangements in southern Syria.
While the future of the Golan remains the main obstacle, these talks signal the parties’ willingness to avoid further tensions, at least in southern Syria. Despite the ambiguity of final details, advancing the issue of security understandings between Damascus and Tel Aviv, with the participation of Washington and Amman, presents the region with an unprecedented opportunity to reduce clashes and achieve relative stability amid the fragile current security situation.