On Thursday, an unprecedented meeting took place in Paris between Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Al-Shabani and Israeli Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer, as reported by U.S. envoy to Syria, Tom Barak.
Barak shared on the social media platform X, “I met with Syrian and Israeli officials in Paris this evening.”
A high-ranking diplomatic source, who requested anonymity, indicated to AFP that the meeting between the Syrian and Israeli ministers was facilitated by the U.S. envoy.
In his post on X, Barak stated, “Our goal was dialogue and de-escalation, and that is exactly what we achieved. All parties renewed their commitment to continue these efforts,” referencing the recent violent clashes in southern Syria that resulted in over 1,200 fatalities in just one week.
It has been announced that the U.S. envoy and the Syrian minister will meet with French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian on Friday morning, according to a source from the French Foreign Ministry.
Last Saturday, Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi, Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Al-Shabani, and U.S. envoy Tom Barak held a meeting in Amman, where they discussed ways to “stabilize the ceasefire” in Syria, as stated in a release from the Jordanian Foreign Ministry.
The statement noted that the tripartite discussions “addressed the situation in Syria and efforts to solidify the ceasefire established early that morning around the Syrian province of Suweida, aimed at preserving Syrian lives and ensuring the safety of citizens.”
Furthermore, Safadi, Al-Shabani, and Barak “agreed on actionable steps to support Syria in implementing the agreement, ensuring the security and stability of Syria while protecting civilians and upholding the country’s sovereignty and the rule of law across all Syrian territory.