Al-Shaibani: Israeli strikes left Syria in “shock”

The Israeli army is investigating the source of the explosion, with initial estimates suggesting it may have been caused by an old Syrian landmine, according to Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper.

The officer, who was preparing the site for “Yom Kippur” later this week, was transported for medical treatment and his family was informed.

According to Yedioth Ahronoth, the Israeli army maintains a “security strip” in Syria, along the border in the Golan Heights.

In recent weeks, efforts have continued simultaneously to sign a security agreement between Syria and Israel. Recently, these efforts faced a last-minute obstacle due to Israel’s demand to open a “humanitarian corridor” to the Suwayda province in southern Syria, according to a Reuters report on Friday citing four sources familiar with the talks.

Syria and Israel have recently come close to agreeing on the main outlines of the deal after months of US-mediated talks in Baku, Paris, and London, which were accelerated ahead of the UN General Assembly.

Reuters noted that the agreement aims to establish a demilitarized zone including the predominantly Druze Suwayda province. In Paris talks, Israel had already requested opening a land corridor to Suwayda, but Syria rejected the request citing sovereignty concerns.

According to the report, Israel renewed this demand later in the talks. A Syrian source and a Washington source told the news agency that Israel’s renewed demand thwarted plans to announce the agreement this week.

In his UN speech this week, Syrian President Ahmed Al-Shara did not mention the possibility of an agreement with Israel, except to say that Damascus “is committed to dialogue.”

Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in his speech on Friday at the UN General Assembly, “Israel’s victory over the Iranian axis of terrorism has opened opportunities for peace. Take Syria as an example. The idea of peace with Syria was fanciful. But not anymore. We have started serious negotiations with the new Syrian government. And I believe an agreement can be reached that respects Syrian sovereignty and respects the security of Israel and minorities, including the Druze minority.”