Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al Shaibani stated on Tuesday that Syria is pursuing a diplomatic resolution with Israel through U.S.-facilitated negotiations, despite ongoing Israeli military actions within Syrian territory. Speaking at a press conference alongside visiting Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen in Damascus, Shaibani detailed a series of recent Israeli incursions and expressed Syria’s commitment to dialogue amid continued tensions.
According to Shaibani, Israeli forces conducted 65 incursions into Syrian areas in July and 52 more in the first 18 days of August. He described these operations as part of a broader campaign involving raids on homes in Quneitra province and the Damascus countryside. Additionally, Syria reported that Israeli troops detained 147 Syrians so far this year, with 49 individuals still held in custody.
Israeli military activity has intensified since the ousting of longtime Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad in December 2024. Israel has carried out hundreds of airstrikes targeting various locations within Syria and has deployed forces into a United Nations-patrolled buffer zone on the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights—a region disputed since Israel captured it in 1967. Israel maintains a so-called “security zone” in southern Syria and aims to establish a broader demilitarized area there to enhance its border security.
Despite the hostilities, Shaibani emphasized that Syria remains engaged in diplomatic talks with Israel. The two countries have held multiple rounds of direct negotiations, with the most recent taking place last month in Jordan following new Israeli strikes, including an attack on a reportedly abandoned airbase in northwestern Syria.
The United States has been actively mediating these discussions, encouraging both sides to pursue peaceful resolution despite the complexities on the ground. While Israeli officials have reiterated their security concerns and justifications for maintaining a military presence south of Syria, Syrian authorities continue to denounce the incursions as violations of sovereignty and have called for an end to the raids and detentions.
The ongoing situation underscores the fragile nature of the ceasefire arrangements and border management between Israel and Syria, with diplomatic efforts striving to prevent further escalation amid conflicting security priorities and longstanding regional tensions.