Since the fall of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in December 2024, Israel has repeatedly struck military bases and equipment in Syria and seized bits of territory in the southern part of the country, all in the name of protecting its northern border.

Last week, in one of its boldest and most provocative moves, Israel bombed Abu al-Duhur, an empty Syrian air base some 70 kilometers from the Turkish border. In eight strikes, Israeli aircraft damaged all its runways.

The raid heightened tensions with Turkey, which was once one of Israel’s closest allies. It also stoked acrimony with Syria, whose previous regime was hostile to Israel but whose current government has sought to end Syria’s state of war with Israel.

In a bid to lower the political temperature, the director of the Mossad, Roman Gofman, met Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani in Jordan on August 23, the Axios news site reported. They discussed the possibility of creating a “special operations room” in Jordan under US supervision to prevent future confrontations in Syria that might draw in Turkey, the sole Muslim member of the NATO alliance.

The day before their meeting, Shaibani told Reuters that he expects Syria and Israel to resume talks to improve bilateral relations. “Syria is extending its hand for understandings, for peace and regional stability,” he said, expressing the hope that diplomacy will lead to a halt in Israeli strikes in Syria and Israel’s eventual withdrawal from Syrian territory.

The United States, having improved its relationship with Syria in the past two years, has been seeking to forge a security agreement between Israel and Syria. It has proven to be elusive. Israel continues to maintain its grip on the Syrian side of Mount Hermon and........

© The Times of Israel (Blogs)