ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - US Envoy for Syria Tom Barrack said on Thursday that he had met with Syrian and Israeli officials in Paris, adding that their goal was "dialogue and de-escalation."
“I met this evening with the Syrians and Israelis in Paris. Our goal was dialogue and de-escalation, and we accomplished precisely that. All parties reiterated their commitment to continuing these efforts,” Barrack said on X.
He did not say who from Israel and Syria attended the meeting. AFP reported earlier in the day that Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani and Israel's Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer to discuss “the topic of southern Syria,” referring to the Druze-majority province of Suwayda, where days of recent clashes between Druze fighters and Sunni tribal fighters left at least 1,300 dead, according to a war monitor.
A French diplomatic source told Rudaw hours before the meeting that the French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot will meet with Barrack and Shaibani on Friday “to discuss the latest developments in Syria.”
The conflict between Druze fighters and pro-Damascus Sunni tribal forces has heightened regional tensions, particularly between Syria’s allies and Israel. Tel Aviv intervened in the fighting in support of the Druze after Syrian government forces were accused of backing the tribal fighters.
