Syria hopes to finalize security and military agreements with Israel by the end of 2025, an official said Thursday, marking a potential breakthrough less than a year after the ouster of Bashar Assad.
With the United States pushing for a settlement between the two neighbors, Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani arrived in Washington to discuss talks with Israel and the possible lifting of remaining sanctions on Syria, said the Foreign Ministry official.
Syria and Israel remain technically at war, but opened direct negotiations after Assad was toppled by an anti-regime coalition last December.
"There is progress in the talks with Israel," said the official, speaking on condition of anonymity, because he was not allowed to brief the media, adding that several agreements were expected to be signed "by the end of the year."
"Primarily, these would be security and military agreements," he told AFP, adding there would be a focus on "an agreement to halt (Israeli) military operations inside Syria."
