Negotiations ongoing over immediate demilitarization in southern Syria, according to Israel's announcement.

In a significant development, ongoing discussions between Israel and Syria are focusing on the establishment of a demilitarized zone and humanitarian aid. The proposed zone would extend from the Golan Heights to Sweida, a governorate in southern Syria.

The Syrian regime has not yet publicly confirmed the details of the proposed demilitarized zone. However, they have acknowledged holding indirect contacts with Israel, with the intention of returning to the 1974 disengagement agreement. This agreement, which ended the fighting between the two countries following the Yom Kippur War, established a UN-patrolled demilitarized zone on the Syrian-held side of the armistice line.

Israel has confirmed occupying this UN-patrolled demilitarized zone on the Syrian-held side of the armistice line since the overthrow of President Bashar Assad. This occupation has been a subject of contention, with hundreds of strikes carried out by Israel in Syria since then.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has acknowledged these contacts with the new Syrian regime for the first time. He has stated that discussions regarding the demilitarized zone and humanitarian aid are ongoing. A key aspect of these negotiations is the protection of the Druze community in Syria's Sweida governorate.

The negotiations between Israel and Syria are being mediated by the United States as part of a multifaceted mediation effort aimed at stabilizing the Syrian front. This mediation also involves Syria, Israel, and Lebanon.

A significant step towards these negotiations was a meeting between Syria's Foreign Minister Asaad Al-Shaibani and Israeli Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer in Paris on August 19. This meeting was confirmed by the French Foreign Ministry and reported to have been under US mediation.

However, tensions remain high, with Israel bombing Syrian government forces in both the capital and Sweida province in July. The outcome of these negotiations will have significant implications for the region, particularly for the Druze community in Sweida.

As these discussions continue, both Israel and Syria will need to navigate complex geopolitical challenges to reach a mutually beneficial agreement. The future of the demilitarized zone and the protection of the Druze community in Sweida remain key points of focus in these negotiations.

Negotiations ongoing over immediate demilitarization in southern Syria, according to Israel's announcement.