Syrian government forces shell a rebel-held neighbourhood in Daraa last week (AFP)
Iran and Israel engaged in indirect negotiations this weekend over fighting in southwest Syria, according to a report on Saudi-owned news site Elaph.
Iran reportedly pledged to stay out of fighting in southwest Syria between Syrian forces and rebel groups while Israel said it will not intervene in battles near the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights or the Israel-Jordan border so long as Hezbollah and Iranian-backed militias are not involved.
For the negotiations, Iran's ambassador to Jordan, Mostafa Moslehzadeh, stayed in a hotel room with Iranian security personnel next door to a room of senior Israeli security officials, including the deputy head of Mossad, Elaph reported.
Jordanian officials served as mediator, shuttling messages between the two rooms, according to the report.
One participant told Elaph that the Iranians "arrived at a quick agreement" that its forces would not intervene in fighting near the Golan Heights and the Israel-Jordan border, surprising the Israeli representatives.
Southern Syria is expected to be among the next targets as the resurgent Syrian government pushes to recapture territory lost during the seven-year war.
OPINIONâ–ş
Putin considers options as Israel and Iran face off in Syria
On Friday, Syrian aircraft dropped leaflets on the southern province of Daraa, urging rebels who control most the area to lay down their weapons or face an offensive.
Israel takes issue with any broad operation in the area, suspecting Damascus's Iranian allies of seeking to establish a military footprint closer to its borders. Israel has warned Iran of the potential for conflict if it sends forces to southern Syria.
According to Elaph, Iran may have been willing to negotiate with Israel this weekend as a result of losses Tehran has sustained in recent Israeli attacks in Syria.
[contf]
[contfnew]
middle east eye
[contfnewc]
[contfnewc]
