Mossad chief met Syrian foreign minister after Israeli strike

Mossad chief Roman Gofman reportedly met Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani on Sunday in an effort to reduce tensions between Israel and Syria following an Israeli airstrike on the Abu al-Duhur military airbase in northern Syria.

Israeli media described the meeting as unusual given the absence of formal diplomatic relations between the two countries and the recent military escalation.

According to the Israeli website Kipa, the talks took place six days after the Israeli Air Force struck the Abu al-Duhur airbase in the Idlib countryside.

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The report did not disclose where the meeting was held or provide details of the discussions. It said, however, that the talks were intended to ease tensions and prevent the latest escalation from developing into a broader confrontation.

The Abu al-Duhur strike came shortly after a Turkish delegation reportedly visited the facility to assess prospects for its rehabilitation. Israeli officials have expressed concern that the base could eventually host Turkish forces, which Israel considers a potential security threat.

The reported Gofman-Shaibani meeting suggests that direct security and intelligence channels remain active between Israel and Syria despite heightened tensions and the absence of formal relations.

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