The United Arab Emirates is reportedly facilitating secret backchannel talks between Syria and Israel, focusing on intelligence-sharing and regional security coordination, according to multiple sources familiar with the matter. These indirect discussions began shortly after Syrian President Ahmed Sharaa’s April 13 visit to the UAE. While Syrian and regional officials confirmed the existence of this communication channel, the UAE has denied any involvement, calling reports of mediation "categorically false."
The talks, involving UAE officials, Syrian intelligence agents, and former Israeli operatives, are said to address counterterrorism issues but exclude military activity related to Israeli operations in Syria. President Sharaa acknowledged in Paris that indirect negotiations via mediators were underway, aimed at reducing Israeli interference in Syria’s internal affairs and airspace violations.
This initiative comes amid escalating tensions, including recent Israeli airstrikes near the Syrian presidential palace. Israel says the strikes were in response to threats against Druze communities, a minority group in Syria, Lebanon, and Israel. Syria has condemned the attacks as foreign aggression and emphasized its efforts to unify the nation after 14 years of civil war.
Syria’s new leadership has signaled a desire to de-escalate with Israel, detaining two senior Palestinian Islamic Jihad members and stating in a letter to the U.S. that Syria will not pose a threat to any country, including Israel.
The UAE’s 2020 normalization of relations with Israel under the Abraham Accords makes it a strategic intermediary in the absence of direct Syria-Israel relations. Despite internal sectarian challenges, including Sunni-Druze clashes and Alawite killings, Sharaa continues to pledge national unity under a centralized command.
These developments reflect shifting regional dynamics as Syria’s Islamist-led government seeks broader acceptance and stability.