Everything you need to know about the Syria-Israel deal in Paris | News from the war in Syria

Syria and Israel agreed to establish a joint mechanism after talks in Paris on Tuesday mediated by the United States, in what they call a “dedicated communications cell” aimed at sharing intelligence and coordinating military de-escalation.

The two countries have had a US-backed security agreement since 1974. However, when the Assad regime fell on December 8, 2024, Israel began attacking Syrian military infrastructure and pushed its troops into the demilitarized zone that is Syrian territory.

Syria and Israel have engaged in intermittent negotiations over the past year to find a security agreement that would end Israel’s repeated aggression against Syrians and Syrian territory.

Here’s everything you need to know about these discussions.

What is the mechanism?

“The mechanism will serve as a platform to quickly resolve any disputes and will strive to avoid misunderstandings,” the two countries said in a joint statement released Tuesday after the agreement.

The idea is to create a body to address grievances and resolve differences between Israel and Syria, ideally in a way that puts an end to Israeli attacks on Syrian territory and people. Both sides can also hope that it will pave the way for a renewed security agreement.

What does Syria want?

A government source told state media outlet SANA that the goal for Syria is to reactivate “the 1974 disengagement agreement, with the aim of ensuring the withdrawal of Israeli forces to existing lines by December 8, 2024 as part of a reciprocal security agreement that prioritizes full Syrian sovereignty and guarantees the prevention of any form of interference in Syria’s internal affairs.”

The Syrian government, led by President Ahmed al-Sharaa, will want Israel to respect Syrian sovereignty by withdrawing its forces and stopping attacks, but also to stop interfering in internal affairs.

The Washington Post reported that Israel has supported figures opposed to the new Syrian government, including Hikmat al Hijri of Suwayda. Israel has previously said it wants to protect Syria’s minority Druze community.

What does Israel want?

Three things mainly, according to Al Jazeera senior correspondent Resul Serdar.

“For Israel, it’s about more land, minority patronage and long-term leverage,” he said.

Israel attempted to portray the new Syrian government as extremist and a threat to its security. He called for the demilitarization of the area south of Damascus, while trying to build relations with Syrian minorities, notably the Druze of Suwayda.

Analysts say this could be part of Israel’s strategy to maintain its weak neighbors.

Israel came to the table, at least in part, because of the leverage and clout of the United States. US President Donald Trump and his special envoy Tom Barrack have both established warm relations with al-Sharaa.

But Israel might also want to counter Turkish influence in Syria. Israel has previously accused Turkiye to make Syria his protectorate.

What does the United States want?

“For Washington, the priority is containment,” Serdar said.

The United States also views Damascus as a crucial partner in the fight against ISIL. Stability in Syria, particularly under a central government in Damascus, could mean the withdrawal of U.S. troops from eastern Syria.

But the United States also wants a strong Syria to avoid the return of Iranian influence in the country and any broader regional violence.

For his part, Trump is eager to expand the Abraham Accords which see Arab and Muslim countries sign normalization deals with Israel and said he hoped Syria would do so. Syria, however, has said it has no intention of signing the Abraham Accords.

Will the mechanism work?

There are doubts.

A Syrian official told the Reuters news agency that his country was not willing to move forward on “strategic issues” without an imposed timetable for Israel’s withdrawal from Syrian territory after December 2024.

In addition to entering Syrian territory, Israel has carried out numerous attacks against Damascus, including against the Syrian Defense Ministry building.

A similar mechanism between Israel and Lebanon was created after the November 2024 ceasefire, with the participation of France and the United States to enforce the agreement. However, the mechanism did not prevent Israel’s almost daily attacks on Lebanese territory, nor led to the withdrawal of Israeli troops from five occupied points in Lebanon.

For the mechanism to work, the United States will have to do something it has rarely done in recent years: hold Israel accountable.

And the Golan Heights?

Israel has illegally occupied areas of the Syrian Golan Heights since 1967.

Israeli officials have indicated they do not want to return the Golan Heights to the new Syrian government.

After the fall of the Assad regime, Israel expanded into Syrian territory and seized the strategic prospect of Jabal al-Sheikh, a mountain located between Syria, Lebanon and Israel.

For now, Syria appears to be focused on Israel’s withdrawal from areas it has occupied since December 2024.