Syria’s HTS-led Admin. Confirms Indirect Talks with ’Israel’ to Avoid Escalation

By Staff, Agencies

Abu Mohammed Al-Julani, leader of Syria’s Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham [HTS]-led administration, has confirmed that indirect negotiations are taking place with the "Israeli" entity in an attempt to prevent the worsening situation from spiraling into an uncontrollable conflict.

During a joint press conference with French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris on Wednesday, Julani emphasized the urgency of the talks, stating they aim to halt the escalation resulting from "Israel’s" ongoing military aggression against Syria. He warned that without intervention, the situation could "spiral out of control."

Julani also noted that his administration has reached out to countries with established ties to "Israel," urging them to pressure the entity to end its attacks.

On the same day, Reuters reported that the United Arab Emirates had opened a backchannel to help facilitate the indirect negotiations. Julani had reportedly visited the UAE—one of the Arab states that normalized ties with "Israel" under a US-brokered agreement in 2020—last month.

Calling "Israel’s" continued military operations a violation of the 1974 Disengagement Agreement signed after the entity’s seizure of Syria’s Golan Heights in the 1967 war, Julani affirmed his administration’s commitment to upholding the terms of that accord.

HTS took control of much of Syria last year amid a wave of "Israeli" airstrikes that targeted civilian infrastructure and defensive sites across the country.

Since then, Julani has signaled a departure from the previous Syrian government's anti-"Israel" stance. He has publicly stated that his administration does not seek conflict with the "Israeli" entity and appears to be pursuing a policy shift that distances itself from Syria’s historic opposition to the occupation and aggression carried out by "Israel" throughout West Asia.

In April, Julani also expressed his administration’s willingness to normalize relations with "Israel," marking a significant shift in regional dynamics.