HTS Administration Engages in Dialogue with ‘israel’ to Prevent Escalation: Jolani
The leader of the Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS)-led administration in Syria has confirmed "indirect" negotiations with Israel. These discussions are reportedly aimed at preventing an uncontrollable escalation of the current situation, as Tel Aviv continues its ongoing military operations against Syria.
During a joint press conference held with French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris on Wednesday, Abu Mohammed al-Jolani stressed the critical importance of the discussions to prevent a situation that could “spiral out of control”.
He further stated that efforts were underway by the administration to engage nations with established relationships with the regime, urging them to halt their aggressive actions.
On Wednesday, Reuters disclosed that the United Arab Emirates has set up a backchannel to aid in the indirect negotiations. Just last month, Jolani journeyed to the UAE, which maintains official relations with Tel Aviv following the signing of a U.S.-mediated agreement in 2020.
The military escalation in Syria has been described as a “violation” of the 1974 Disengagement Agreement between Damascus and Tel Aviv. This accord was established following the seizure of Syria’s Golan Heights by Tel Aviv during a Western-backed conflict that occurred seven years prior.
The HTS-led administration, under the leadership of Jolani, has affirmed its commitment to the agreement.
Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), once a key faction in the opposition against Syria’s prior administration led by Bashar al-Assad, assumed control over the nation last year. This development unfolded amidst a backdrop of significant Israeli airstrikes targeting both civilian and defensive infrastructures within Syria.
Jolani later stated that his organization does not seek conflict with Israel, signaling a resolve among the new Syrian leadership to move away from the previous government’s persistent opposition to Israel and its ongoing actions across the West Asia region.
In April, Jolani signaled an openness to normalize relations between the administration led by HTS and the regime.
