Syria, Israel hold talks in Paris over conflict in southern Syria’s Suwayda

In response to the escalation of sectarian violence brought on by Israeli military intervention in southern Syria, Syrian and Israeli officials have held talks in Paris, according to a Syrian official.

The meeting on Saturday was held to discuss recent security developments in Suwayda, a city with a high proportion of Druzes in southern India, where Bedouins and Druze fighters have frequently engaged in violent fighting.

Israel intervened in the conflict, striking government buildings in Damascus and government soldiers in Suwayda province, claiming to be doing so to protect the Druze.

The Syrian official stated to Al Jazeera Arabic that the delegation from Damascus at the Paris meeting made it clear that Syria’s unity and sovereignty are unquestionable, and that Suwayda and its people are integral parts of Syria. The official said the organization also rejected any attempt to divide Syria by attempting to systematically divide the country.

The Syrian delegation demanded the Israeli forces’ immediate withdrawal from areas they had recently advanced to during the unrest, according to the source.

“Reliable and honest”

According to the parties’ agreement to continue discussions aimed at maintaining stability, the meeting did not lead to any final agreements, according to Syria’s state-run Ekhbariya TV, citing its own diplomatic source.

In the first confirmation from the Syrian side that talks had taken place, the TV source described the conversation as “honest and responsible.”

US envoy Tom Barrack claimed that on Thursday during discussions about de-escalating the situation in Syria, officials from both nations spoke.

In addition to drawing in government forces, hundreds of people have been reported killed in the fighting in Suwayda. Since Bashar al-Assad’s overthrow in December, Israel, which carried out air strikes in Syria, has regularly attacked and launched incursions into its territory.

The conflict from last week highlighted the difficulties that interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa faces in sustaining central authority and stabilizing Syria.

A week prior, the Syrian government announced that Bedouin fighters had been expelled from Suwayda and that government forces had been stationed to supervise their exit.

Following a separate US-brokered agreement, al-Sharaa ordered a new ceasefire between Bedouin and Druze groups to prevent further Israeli military attacks on Syria.