Tel Aviv — On Monday, Israel’s leading newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth revealed new details about ongoing talks between Israel and Syria, marking the most significant diplomatic engagement between the two sides in decades. 

According to the report, the negotiations are exploring a phased Israeli withdrawal from nine military positions in the Golan Heights, as well as possible pullbacks from strategic areas on Mount Hermon.

The talks, which involve representatives of Israel and Syria’s transitional government led by Ahmed al-Sharaa, are said to focus on renewing the ceasefire agreement first established in 1974 under Hafez and Bashar al-Assad. That agreement collapsed following the fall of the Assad regime more than a year ago.

Israeli military officials have expressed concern that certain clauses under discussion could limit Israel’s ability to conduct strikes inside Syria, potentially strengthening Hezbollah’s supply lines. The army has also warned that restrictions on military activity might undermine Israel’s deterrence posture in the region.

Despite political assurances that Israeli forces will remain stationed at the summit of Mount Hermon, Yedioth Ahronoth noted that reports from the negotiations suggest a preliminary understanding on partial Israeli withdrawal and new operational constraints.