A Syrian official tells Al Jazeera Damascus emphasises the unity and sovereignty of Syria are nonnegotiable.
Syrian and Israeli officers have held talks in Paris mediated by the USA, based on a Syrian official, within the wake of an eruption of sectarian violence compounded by Israeli army intervention in southern Syria.
The assembly on Saturday was held to handle current safety developments across the southern Druze-majority metropolis of Suwayda, which has been the scene of fierce preventing in current weeks between Bedouins and Druze fighters.
Israel intervened within the battle, hanging authorities buildings in Damascus and authorities troopers in Suwayda province, saying it was doing so to guard the Druze.
The Syrian official advised Al Jazeera Arabic that Damascus’s delegation on the Paris assembly emphasised that the unity and sovereignty of Syria are nonnegotiable and Suwayda and its individuals are an integral a part of Syria. It additionally rejected any try to use segments of Syrian society for partition, the official mentioned.
The supply mentioned the Syrian delegation held Israel accountable for the current escalation and demanded the fast withdrawal of Israeli forces from the factors that they had just lately superior to throughout the unrest.
‘Sincere and accountable’
Syria’s state-run Ekhbariya TV, quoting its personal diplomatic supply, reported that the assembly didn’t lead to any ultimate agreements however the events had agreed to proceed talks aimed toward sustaining stability.
The TV supply described the dialogue as “trustworthy and accountable” within the first affirmation from the Syrian facet that talks had taken place.
On Friday, US envoy Tom Barrack mentioned officers from each international locations spoke about de-escalating the scenario in Syria throughout talks on Thursday.
Lots of of individuals have been reported killed within the preventing in Suwayda, which additionally drew in authorities forces. Israel, which carried out air strikes, throughout this month’s violence, has frequently struck Syria and launched incursions into its territory since longtime former President Bashar al-Assad was toppled in December.
Final week’s preventing underlined the challenges interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa faces in stabilising Syria and sustaining centralised rule.
Syria’s authorities introduced per week in the past that Bedouin fighters had been cleared out of Suwayda and authorities forces have been deployed to supervise their exit from the complete province.
The announcement got here after al-Sharaa ordered a brand new ceasefire between Bedouin and Druze teams after a separate US-brokered deal to avert additional Israeli army assaults on Syria.
The diplomatic supply, who spoke to Ekhbariya TV, mentioned the assembly on Saturday concerned preliminary consultations aimed toward “lowering tensions and opening channels of communication amid an ongoing escalation since early December”.
