Syria expects to resume negotiations with Israel, aiming for IDF withdrawal, foreign minister says

Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani stated in a Reuters interview that Syria expects negotiations with Israel to resume soon, aiming for an Israeli withdrawal from Syrian territory. He urged Israel to seize a "historic opportunity" for diplomacy, emphasizing that Damascus's priority is to halt Israeli attacks and build confidence. Shaibani noted that negotiations for a security agreement had been frozen since the Iran war but are anticipated to restart, despite current distrust. He claimed the US is continuously pressuring Israel to return to dialogue. Shaibani also mentioned that around the beginning of the year, the sides had "agreed on paper to almost everything" regarding a security deal tied to Israel's withdrawal, but Israel lacked the "real will to reach an agreement." The US is reportedly working on a conflict-prevention mechanism for Israel, Turkey, and Syria.