Damascus: Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani announced that Syria has suspended all contacts with Israel after an attack on the Abu al-Duhur airbase in northern Syria. Despite this, he expects negotiations on a security agreement to resume soon.

According to Anadolu Agency, Shaibani expressed hope that discussions with Israel will lead to its withdrawal from Syrian territories. In an interview with Western media, he emphasized the importance of diplomacy and urged Israel to seize what he described as a "historic opportunity." He highlighted Syria's immediate priority of halting Israeli attacks and building trust between the nations.

Shaibani revealed that direct communications with Israel ceased after the Israeli airstrike on the Abu al-Duhur airbase in Idlib province on August 18. He stated that the attack occurred despite assurances to Israel that the site would not become a Turkish base. Nonetheless, Shaibani affirmed Syria's commitment to continuing Turkish military cooperation.

The foreign minister described communication with Israel as essential due to the ongoing threat to Syria's security, but insisted that such interactions should yield tangible results. Earlier this year, Damascus and Tel Aviv had reached understandings on most aspects of a proposed security agreement, which would prevent Israeli attacks and establish security zones near the border.

Shaibani accused Israel of lacking the motivation to finalize the agreement. He emphasized that stopping Israeli attacks is Syria's current priority, even before addressing the issue of the occupied Golan Heights.

He also noted that the United States is pressuring Israel to return to negotiations and finalize the agreement with Syria. Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa had previously stated that successful negotiations could lead to comprehensive peace while maintaining Syria's claim to the Golan Heights, which Israel has occupied since 1967. Following the fall of the Assad regime in late 2024, Israel voided the 1974 disengagement agreement and took control of strategic positions in the region.