Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday that Israel has made progress in negotiations with Syria, raising the possibility of future peace agreements with both Damascus and Beirut. His remarks came ahead of a planned evening meeting to review the emerging security framework.
Netanyahu told his cabinet that Israel’s victories against Hezbollah in Lebanon had created a rare opportunity for peace. He credited the defeat of the Iran-backed group in 2024, following months of conflict and a ground invasion of southern Lebanon, with reshaping regional dynamics. “These discussions with Syria and Lebanon would not have been possible without our decisive victories on the northern front,” he said.
Later on Sunday, a senior US official revealed that an Israel-Syria security agreement was “99%” complete and could be announced within the next two weeks. The official said only the timing of the announcement and domestic considerations in Syria remained unresolved. Talks have been brokered by Washington, with Israeli and Syrian representatives recently meeting in London for five hours of negotiations.
The proposed deal reportedly includes Israel maintaining buffer zones in southern Syria, alongside discussions on demilitarizing southwest Syria and ensuring security for the Druze community in Jabal Druze. Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa described the agreement as a “necessity,” emphasizing respect for Syria’s territorial unity and UN monitoring. While normalization or broader peace agreements are not yet on the table, officials suggested that progress on the security pact could pave the way for future understandings.