The United Arab Emirates has reportedly established a covert communication channel to facilitate talks between Israel and Syria, according to three individuals familiar with the matter.
The development comes as Syria’s new leadership seeks regional support to manage an increasingly tense relationship with its southern neighbour.
Sources with direct knowledge, including a Syrian security official and a regional intelligence officer, told Reuters that the undisclosed discussions are centred on intelligence-sharing, security issues, and efforts to build confidence between the two nations, which do not maintain formal diplomatic relations.
According to one source, the initiative began shortly after Syrian President Ahmed Sharaa visited the UAE on 13 April. The talks are said to be concentrating on “technical matters” for now, though the scope could broaden in the future.
President Sharaa, speaking at a press conference in Paris, publicly acknowledged the indirect talks for the first time. “There are indirect negotiations taking place via mediators to calm the situation,” he said. “We talk to all states that are in communication with the Israeli side to pressure them to stop interfering in Syria’s affairs and violating its airspace and striking some of its installations.”
However, UAE Assistant Foreign Minister for Political Affairs and Foreign Minister’s Envoy, Lana Nusseibeh, denied the country’s involvement. “The claim that the UAE is ‘mediating secret talks’ between Syria and Israel is categorically false. The UAE is not part of any such talks,” she told Reuters.
Despite this denial, a senior Syrian security source stated that the UAE-based channel is strictly limited to security issues, particularly those related to counterterrorism. Matters concerning Israeli military operations in Syria are reportedly excluded from the discussions.
Another intelligence source said the mechanism involves UAE and Syrian security officials, along with former Israeli intelligence officers, among others. All the sources spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter.
Syria’s presidency did not respond to a request for comment, while the Israeli prime minister’s office also declined to comment.
The reported mediation efforts predated a series of Israeli airstrikes in Syria last week, including one that struck within 500 metres of the presidential palace in Damascus. It remains unclear whether the channel has been utilised since those attacks.
Faridah Abdulkadiri
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