Israel and Syria have resumed dialogue on security matters in the wake of deadly sectarian clashes that saw the IDF strike in Damascus and in Syria’s southern Sweida province last week, Saudi media reported Tuesday.

According to the Saudi channel Al-Hadath, the talks are being mediated by Turkey and the United States, and an Israeli delegation is expected to travel soon to Baku, Azerbaijan, to finalize understandings with Syria.

However, the report also said Israel is not currently committing to halt its strikes in Syria and is demanding a demilitarized zone along the border, as well as a permanent Israeli presence in the buffer zone that the military seized after the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime in December.

There was no immediate comment from Israel.

Prior to the strikes, Israel and Syria were in “advanced talks” for a deal to halt hostilities, with the Trump administration also pushing the two sides toward full normalization of diplomatic relations.

Israel intervened in Syrian sectarian conflict earlier this month on behalf of the Druze, who are seen as a loyal minority within Israel and often serve in its military.

Israel accused Syria’s interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa’s forces of complicity in deadly attacks by Bedouin tribes against the minority group in the country’s southern Sweida governorate. The week of fighting appeared to end with a ceasefire negotiated by Washington and announced on Saturday.

On Monday, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Trump was “caught off guard” by the Israeli strikes in Syria.

The comment came after several US officials were anonymously quoted in the Axios news site expressing their frustration with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, arguing that Israeli strikes on Syrian government forces risked toppling the fledgling regime that Washington is trying to support in an effort to stabilize the country.

US special envoy to Syria Tom Barrack on Monday also criticized Israel’s intervention in Syria, saying that it was poorly timed and complicated efforts to stabilize the region.

Syria and Israel have been opposing sides of conflicts in the Middle East for decades, including direct and often bitter combat.

However, Assad, Syria’s Iran-backed dictator, fled the country in December, and the new Islamist rulers in Damascus are eager to present a moderate face to the West.

Agencies contributed to this report.