The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has initiated a discreet communication channel for discussions between Israel and Syria, according to the sources familiar with the situation. This move comes as Syria’s new leadership seeks regional assistance to navigate a growingly adversarial relationship with Israel.
These previously unreported indirect communications are centered on security, intelligence issues, and building trust between the two nations that lack formal diplomatic ties, as stated by a source with direct knowledge, a Syrian security official, and a regional intelligence representative. The initial source characterized the initiative, which commenced shortly after Syrian President Ahmed Sharaa‘s visit to the UAE on April 13, as currently concentrating on ‘technical matters,’ with no restrictions on potential future discussions.
A senior Syrian security source informed Reuters that the backchannel is strictly confined to security-related topics, particularly several counterterrorism issues. They noted that military concerns, especially those related to Israeli military operations in Syria, are not included in the current discussions.
The intelligence source revealed that the mechanism involves UAE security officials, Syrian intelligence representatives, and former Israeli intelligence personnel, among others, who requested anonymity due to the delicate nature of the matter. Neither Syria’s presidency nor the UAE foreign ministry responded to requests for comments, and the Israeli prime minister’s office also refrained from commenting.
This mediation effort occurred prior to recent Israeli airstrikes in Syria, including one striking just 500 meters from the presidential palace in Damascus, and Reuters has not confirmed whether the communication channel has been utilized since those strikes.
Israel has positioned its strikes as a warning to the new leadership in Syria, responding to threats against the Druze community, a minority sect related to Islam found in Syria, Lebanon, and Israel. Recent informal mediation efforts between Israel and Syria have occurred over the past week through various channels, as reported by a source and a regional diplomat, who chose not to provide further details.
The Syrian government has denounced Israel’s actions as provocative and an act of foreign interference, asserting that the new administration in Damascus is focused on unifying the nation after 14 years of conflict. The new leaders have also made consistent attempts to demonstrate that they do not pose a threat to Israel, engaging with representatives of the Jewish community both in Damascus and internationally, and detaining two senior figures from Palestinian Islamic Jihad, which was involved in the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led assault on Israel.
A letter from Syria’s foreign ministry to the U.S. State Department last month, which was reviewed by Reuters, stated, ‘We will not permit Syria to become a source of threat to any party, including Israel.’
For years, Israel has conducted operations in Syria as part of a covert strategy to diminish the influence of Iran and its allies, including Hezbollah, which expanded its power after supporting Bashar al-Assad during the civil war. Following the ousting of Assad by rebels in December, Israeli military actions have intensified, with officials stating they will not accept an Islamist militant presence in southern Syria.
Israel has targeted what it claims are military sites throughout the country, and its ground forces have also entered southwestern Syria. In February, Reuters reported that Israel has urged the U.S. to maintain a decentralized and isolated Syria, expressing concerns about Sharaa, who previously led an al-Qaeda faction before severing ties in 2016.
The UAE government shares worries regarding the Islamist tendencies of Syria’s new leadership, but a recent meeting between Sharaa and President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan reportedly went positively, alleviating some of Abu Dhabi’s apprehensions.
Sources indicated that the meeting extended for several hours, causing Sharaa to be late for another appointment. A backchannel with Israel was reportedly established shortly after.
Damascus views the UAE’s relationship with Israel, which was formalized in a landmark U.S.-brokered agreement in 2020, as a crucial pathway to resolve issues with Israel, especially in light of the lack of direct diplomatic relations.
Israel’s recent airstrikes in Syria came after violent confrontations between Sunni Muslim and Druze factions, sparked by a controversial voice recording allegedly disparaging the Prophet Mohammed, resulting in over two dozen fatalities.
The Syrian government has successfully negotiated with Druze factions in the Suweida region to establish local security forces from within their community, which has helped to alleviate tensions. This conflict represents a significant challenge for Sharaa, who has consistently pledged to consolidate all of Syria’s military forces into a single entity and to govern a nation that has been fragmented by 14 years of civil war.
However, incidents of sectarian violence, including the deaths of hundreds of pro-Assad Alawites in March, have intensified concerns among minority groups regarding the now-prevalent Islamist factions and have drawn criticism from international powers.
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