Syria's foreign minister has met an Israeli delegation led by the head of the Mossad intelligence agency in Jordan, in US-mediated talks aimed at de-escalating tensions.
The meeting followed an Israeli strike near the Turkish border that raised fears of a wider escalation in northern Syria. Details of the strike, including its intended target, were not fully disclosed.
Officials familiar with the talks said discussions focused on reducing the risk of further clashes and establishing channels to prevent misunderstandings.
Syria and Israel have no formal diplomatic relations, and direct contact between senior figures from the two countries has historically been rare.
“The fact that both sides are in the same room is itself a signal that neither wants the situation to spiral.”
“The fact that both sides are in the same room is itself a signal that neither wants the situation to spiral,” said one regional diplomat.
Jordan has long served as a venue for sensitive regional discussions, and the United States has pressed for calm along Syria's borders.
The strike near the Turkish frontier also drew attention to the involvement of several regional powers with competing interests in Syria.
Turkey, which has military forces in parts of northern Syria, is likely to follow any outcome of the discussions closely. Russia and Iran have also historically held influence in the country, adding to the complexity.
Neither government released detailed statements on the substance of the talks, and it was not immediately clear whether further meetings had been scheduled.
Analysts say any lasting de-escalation will depend on whether understandings reached in Amman translate into restraint on the ground.
