Benjamin Netanyahu, Prime Minister of Israel, announced on Thursday that he had a phone conversation with Ahmad al-Shara'a, President of Syria, after the bombing of the Syrian Ministry of Defense in Damascus in July 2025. This call is considered the first public communication between the leaders of the two countries, which do not have official relations.
Details of the Conversation
During a visit to the Druze village of Yarka in northern Israel, Netanyahu said, "I contacted al-Shara'a. It was a very short and brief conversation, and the massacre stopped." The Prime Minister of Israel referred to the violence that occurred in Suwayda in July 2025, where clashes began between Druze and Bedouin groups in the city and surrounding villages. Government forces acted in favor of the Bedouin fighters, resulting in over 1,700 casualties. UN reports in March particularly emphasized the targeting of Druze civilians and mentioned human rights violations by both sides.
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Syria's Reaction and Future Negotiations
The spokesperson for the Syrian Foreign Ministry did not respond to media requests for immediate comment. This is the first public contact between the leaders of Israel and Syria, which holds particular significance in the history of relations between the two countries during a time of war and lack of official relations. Al-Shara'a's government has initiated negotiations mediated by the United States since 2025.
Syria has regularly condemned Israeli operations on its territory, and on Thursday, Damascus accused Israel of igniting a fire in a warehouse in the outskirts of Daraa. Netanyahu stated, "We targeted the Ministry of Defense in Damascus and destroyed another target within the palace grounds." He also added that he would do whatever is necessary to protect the Druze and help them return to their homes. "More work remains; I cannot reveal everything. But this commitment comes from my heart."
Since the fall of Bashar al-Assad's government in December 2024, Israel and Syria have begun direct and indirect negotiations aimed at reaching a security agreement. Especially with the upcoming Israeli general elections on October 27, Netanyahu has focused more on security issues that are important to right-wing voters in Israel. He also visited the eastern border of Israel in the Jordan Valley on Thursday, where a new security barrier is being constructed.
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