The media reported on secret talks between Syria and Israel mediated by the UAE

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has created a backup channel for negotiations between Israel and Syria. This was reported on May 7 by the Reuters news agency, citing three sources familiar with the situation.

According to the agency's interlocutor in the Syrian security forces and a representative of one of the Middle East intelligence services, indirect contacts between Tel Aviv and Damascus are aimed at resolving security and intelligence issues, as well as building trust between the two states that do not have official relations.

According to Reuters. The talks, which began a few days after Syrian President Ahmed Al-Sharaa's visit to the UAE on April 13, are currently focused on "technical issues." It is indicated that there are no restrictions on what may eventually become the subject of discussion.

The mediation efforts reportedly preceded Israeli strikes on Syria last week, one of which landed just 500 meters from the presidential palace in Damascus. Israel presented the strikes as a message to the Syrian leadership in response to threats against the Syrian Druze, a religious minority that is an offshoot of Islam and has followers in Syria, Lebanon and Israel, according to Reuters.

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Earlier, on May 3, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced attacks on targets near the presidential palace in Damascus, Syria. According to him, the attack was aimed at preventing the deployment of military forces south of the Syrian capital against the Druze.

On the same day, the media reported that Israel had carried out an airstrike in the northwestern province of Hama in Syria. It is specified that the air strike hit the vicinity of the village of Shata. There was no information about the destruction of infrastructure or casualties during the raid.