Israeli, Syrian ministers to discuss 'humanitarian corridor' to Suweida

Israel and Syria are expected to hold talks on the situation in the southern Druze-majority province of Suweida next week, amid a push for a resolution to the crisis in the south.

The US envoy to Syria Tom Barrack is expected to meet next week in Paris with Syrian Foreign Minister Assad Al-Shaibani and Israeli Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer in order to reach an agreement to open a "humanitarian corridor" between Israel and Suweida Province, Axios reported.

Violent clashes broke out in Suweida last month between Druze militias and mostly Sunni Bedouin fighters. Government forces intervened to restore order but also killed Druze civilians and committed other abuses.

Israel bombed the defence ministry building in the Syrian capital as well as government forces in Suweida province, claiming that this was to "protect" Syria's Druze.

After the clashes, there were reports of "catastrophic" humanitarian conditions in Suweida province, with severe shortages of electricity, water, food and medical supplies.

Local activists accused the Syrian government of imposing a siege on the province but the government denied this, saying that aid could still enter.

The UN said earlier this week that the situation was still deteriorating, with continuing difficulty in delivering supplies, due to the presence of roadblocks and the volatile security situation.

Axios said that an agreement for a humanitarian corridor between Israel and Suweida province could pave the way for a potential improvement and normalisation of ties between Syria and Israel.

However, the Syrian government also fears that it could be used to smuggle weapons to anti-government Druze militias in Suweida, and there are also concerns that Israel wants to expand its presence in southern Syria.

After the fall of longtime dictator Bashar al-Assad in December 2024, Israel, which seized control of the Syrian Golan Heights in 1967, proceeded to occupy areas near the Golan Heights, violating a 1974 UN-brokered disengagement agreement between Syria and Israel.

It has since demanded the full demilitarisation of Syria south of Damascus and launched regular airstrikes on Syrian military bases.

Israel’s declared interest in a humanitarian corridor to Suweida also comes amid its siege and starvation of the Gaza Strip, where dozens of people are being killed every day in Israeli strikes.