Israel and Iran set up secret back-channel to reduce chance of war over Syria
Arch enemies reportedly set up communication as the Syrian army prepares to launch attack against rebel groups Daraa and Quneitra
Arch enemies Israel and Iran have set up a secret back-channel to reduce the chances of war over Syrian army operations near the Golan Heights, according to Saudi reports.
The Syrian military is preparing to attack rebel groups in Daraa and Quneitra, and the prospect of Iranian or Hezbollah fighters near the border alarmed both Israel and Jordan, according to reports in Israel Hayom.
Both Iran and its Lebanon-based proxy Hezbollah have fought on the side of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in recent years and Saudi media sources reported that Jordan recently received assurances from Iran that its forces would not deploy.
“Iran used Jordan as a go-between to relay a message to Israel, saying it would not operate in south-eastern Syria near the border with Jordan,” Israel Hayom reports.
“According to the report, the understandings were reached in a series of indirect meetings in Jordan, where Iranian officials, including the envoy to Jordan, met with top Jordanian officials, who in turn met with senior Israeli security officials.”
If true, it would mean that Israel, Syria and Jordan have agreed that only Syria and Jordan’s army will operate on respective sides of their border, therefore reducing the risk of all-out war between Israel and Iran.
A senior Jordanian official who took part in the mediation efforts told the Saudi website Elaph that the agreement was reached in very little time.
“Within a few hours, we managed to reach an understanding with all the parties operating in the region – mainly Israel and Iran – that the Syrian and Jordanian armies would be the only two forces to deploy on both sides of the border between Syria and Jordan,” he said.
“The Iranians provided assurances that their forces would not operate alongside the Syrian military in the offensive.”
LISTEN TO THE LATEST JEWISH VIEWS PODCAST EPISODE!
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.
