Дата публикации: 24-08-2026 11:52:32

Syria, Israel hold US-mediated talks
Welcome back to the Daily Briefing.This is Ezgi Akin, filling in for Gabrielle. In today’s edition:Syria, Israel hold US-mediated talks to ease tensionsPakistan’s Munir arrives in TehranMajor UAE economic delegation to visit BeirutPro-Palestinian protesters sentenced over Golden Gate Bridge blockadeThanks for reading,Ezgi (ezgi_akin)Syria, Israel hold US-mediated talks to ease tensionsAn Israeli tank drives along the ceasefire line between the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights and Syria, on its Israeli side Aug. 20, 2026. REUTERS/Ayal MargolinSyria and Israel resumed high-level, US-brokered talks in Jordan on Sunday in an effort to contain rising tensions after a new round of Israeli strikes on Syrian territory, including last week’s attack on the Abu al-Duhur airbase.According to Syria’s state news agency SANA, the discussions focused on ways to stop Israeli airstrikes, arrests and targeted assassinations, while reopening negotiations over a broader security arrangement. The delegations also addressed mounting friction between Israel and Turkey and ways to keep their rivalry from turning Syria into a battleground. Tensions between the two countries rose sharply last week after Israel struck the Abu al-Duhur airbase. Israel said Syria had been close to violating a security understanding by allowing Turkish troops to deploy at the facility, which it viewed as a threat to its security. Turkey rejected the claim, saying no Turkish military personnel were present at the base and condemning the Israeli strikes as a violation of Syria’s sovereignty.Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani said on Monday that Damascus and Israel had previously narrowed their differences considerably, including over security zones in southern Syria and a buffer area reserved for United Nations forces. But talks stalled after the Iran war began and contacts were severed following the Abu al-Duhur strike.Listen to a breakdown of the top headlines on today’s episode of the Middle East Minute podcast with Adam Lucente.Pakistan’s army chief arrives in TehranPakistan's Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir looks on prior to a quadrilateral meeting between the United States, Iran, Pakistan and Qatar at the Burgenstock luxury hotel complex overlooking Lake Lucerne, Switzerland, on June 21, 2026. FABRICE COFFRINI/Pool via REUTERS Pakistan’s army chief Asim Munir arrived in Tehran on Monday amid Islamabad-led efforts to achieve a ceasefire between Washington and Tehran. Ahead of his arrival, Munir spoke with US President Donald Trump, who urged Islamabad to help bring Iran back to negotiations, Reuters reported on Monday citing Pakistani sources. In addition to Munir, Oman’s Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr Albusaidi is also due in Tehran on Tuesday for further discussions on the Strait of Hormuz. The deadlock over shipping arrangements in the strategic waterway continues, with Iran’s newly established Persian Gulf Strait Authority warning that vessels breaching its new transit rules could face fines, detention or confiscation. Major UAE economic delegation to visit BeirutPeople walk past a Bank of Beirut branch in Beirut, Lebanon, July 2, 2021. — Marwan Tahtah/Getty ImagesThe United Arab Emirates is sending a major economic delegation to Beirut on Wednesday as Abu Dhabi steps up efforts to revive ties with Lebanon and support its battered economy. Led by UAE Minister of State for Foreign Trade Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, the delegation will include 67 business leaders and executives and is expected to explore investments in public and private projects. Potential areas include customs systems at Beirut airport, ports, border crossings and oil facilities. The visit follows a broader political thaw as Gulf states reengage with Lebanon after years of tensions linked to Hezbollah’s influence. Seven pro-Palestinian protesters sentenced over Golden Gate Bridge blockadeThe Golden Gate Bridge during sunrise seen from Marin Headlands viewpoint in Marin County, California, US Oct. 5, 2024. REUTERS/Manuel Orbegozo/File Photo Seven protesters who blocked traffic on San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge during a 2024 pro-Palestinian demonstration have been sentenced to 30 days, with credit for time already served. A jury convicted them in July on misdemeanor charges including false imprisonment, obstruction and unlawful assembly, but failed to reach a verdict on felony conspiracy. The sentences include jail time, work release, six months of probation and more than $1,000 in fines and restitution. Prosecutors said they would not retry the conspiracy charge. The defendants, who argued they acted out of moral opposition to the Gaza war, remain free pending appeal.
eakin@al-monitor.com
Mon, 08/24/2026 - 07:52



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