Middle East adversaries Israel and Syria have held discussions for weeks about normalization, officials say.

Israel and Syria are engaged in direct talks focusing "on limited security arrangements" and the possible withdrawal of Israeli forces from territories occupied in southern Syria after the ouster of President Bashar al-Assad in December 2024,

The US president hopes to reintegrate Syria into the global economy as Israel considers normalizing ties with the country. The orders still maintain sanctions on elements of the former government, including Assad.