Mossad chief, Syria FM hold positive de-escalation talks after Israeli airbase strike, source says

ByAMICHAI STEIN, IDAN KWELLER, JERUSALEM POST STAFFAUGUST 23, 2026 18:43Updated: AUGUST 23, 2026 18:49A meeting held on Sunday between Israeli and Syrian officials "went well" amid ongoing efforts to lower tensions between the two countries, a source familiar with the meeting told The Jerusalem Post.Those in attendance included Mossad chief Roman Gofman and Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani, according to N12 News.The meeting came after comments from al-Shaibani to Reuters on Saturday, in which he urged Israel to seize a "historic opportunity" for diplomacy."We believe there should be contact, especially with a party that constantly threatens the security of Syria. But if this contact doesn’t bring results, then we don’t need it," he said. "We do not trust Israel currently."Al-Shaibani's comments follow Israel's strike against Syria's Abu al-Duhur military airfield on Tuesday. Two sources told the Post on Saturday that the strike was intended to prevent the placement of a Turkish radar and air defense system.Reuters and Corinne Baum contributed to this report.Follow us on Google