Israeli bid for Syria security deal fails over buffer zone dispute
12:48, 03/09/2026, Thursday
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A senior Israeli diplomatic official told The Jerusalem Post that efforts to secure a security agreement with Syria have collapsed over Tel Aviv's refusal to withdraw from the occupied buffer zone, which Jerusalem considers a vital security asset, though diplomatic channels between the neighbors remain active.
A senior Israeli diplomatic official told The Jerusalem Post that efforts to reach a comprehensive security agreement with Damascus have collapsed amid sharp disagreements over Tel Aviv's continued occupation of the Syrian buffer zone, which Israeli authorities consider a vital strategic asset.
Buffer zone deadlock
"We tried to reach a security agreement. In the end, it did not succeed," the official told the outlet. "We did not think that, as part of a security arrangement or security agreement, we should withdraw from the buffer zone," he added, noting that Jerusalem considers the area a vital "security asset." The official said Damascus has shown reduced interest in advancing negotiations since some international sanctions were eased, though he declined to provide specific details of the discussions.
Diplomatic channels
Despite the impasse, the official confirmed that back-channel communications between Israel and Damascus remain active, emphasizing that Israel seeks to preserve what it considers its security interests through continued dialogue. The remarks follow a high-level meeting in Jordan on Aug. 23 between a Syrian delegation led by Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani and Israeli representatives under US mediation, according to Syria’s SANA news agency. A diplomatic source at the Foreign Ministry told the outlet that discussions focused on practical mechanisms to halt Israeli attacks and revive negotiations toward a comprehensive security agreement that could form the basis for a broader future deal.
Post-Assad occupation
Israeli forces have occupied most of the Syrian Golan Heights since 1967, and following the collapse of Bashar Assad’s regime in late 2024, Jerusalem declared the 1974 disengagement agreement with Damascus terminated. Israeli troops subsequently moved to occupy the Syrian buffer zone and other strategic positions including the Syrian side of Mount Hermon, which Israel considers essential to its northern border security. On July 26, Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa said his country was working with several countries to reach a security agreement with Israel, noting that if successful, such a deal could pave the way for comprehensive peace without Damascus relinquishing its claim to the occupied territory.