Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani and Israeli Mossad Director Roman Gofman held a meeting in Jordan on Sunday to de-escalate tensions following an Israeli air strike on a Syrian airbase.
The Israeli Air Force struck the Abu al-Duhur airbase in northern Syria on Tuesday, dropping at least eight bombs on runways and hangars. The airbase sits approximately 45 miles from the Turkish border.
The Sunday talks marked a rare direct engagement between senior officials from both countries, according to three sources with knowledge of the matter.
Al-Shaibani said Syria's immediate priority is halting Israeli attacks and called for confidence-building measures between the two nations. He told Reuters on Saturday that he expected negotiations with Israel to resume soon.
Damascus hopes the talks will lead to a security agreement that includes Israeli withdrawal from Syrian territory. Al-Shaibani described the current diplomatic opening as a "historic opportunity."
The involvement of Gofman, who heads Israel's intelligence agency Mossad, underscores the security dimensions of the discussions. Both countries anticipate additional talks in the coming weeks.
