Benjamin Netanyahu, the Prime Minister of Israel, announced on Thursday that he had contacted Ahmad al-Shahr, the President of Syria, after the bombing of the Syrian Ministry of Defense in Damascus in July 2025. This contact represents the first public communication between the leaders of the two countries, occurring amidst significant tensions without the establishment of formal relations.
Details of the Conversation
Netanyahu, during a visit to the Druze village of Yarka in northern Israel, said: "I contacted al-Shahr. It was a very brief and targeted conversation, and the massacre was stopped." Netanyahu's reference is to the violence in Sweida in July 2025, which led to clashes between Druze and Bedouin groups in the city and surrounding villages. Government forces intervened in these clashes in favor of the Bedouin fighters, resulting in over 1,700 fatalities. Reports from the United Nations in March emphasized that Druze civilians were particularly targeted, although violations by both sides have been confirmed.
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Reactions and Consequences
The spokesperson for the Syrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not immediately respond to requests for comment on this matter. As the first public contact between the leaders of Israel and Syria, this event follows negotiations between al-Shahr's government and Israel, mediated by the United States. Syria has regularly condemned Israeli operations on its territory, and on Thursday, Damascus accused Israel of igniting fires in warehouses located in the outskirts of Daraa.
Netanyahu further referenced actions that would be taken to support the Druze and assist their return to their homes, stating: "We destroyed the Ministry of Defense in Damascus and targeted a goal within the palace complex. There is still much work to be done; I cannot reveal everything. But this commitment comes from the depth of my heart." Additionally, Israel and Syria have initiated direct and indirect negotiations aimed at reaching a security agreement since the fall of Bashar al-Assad's government in December 2024.
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