For the third time, Israel and Turkey are holding indirect talks on Syria—this round taking place today (Thursday) in Baku, with mediation by Azerbaijan, a country maintaining good ties with Israel.

According to sources who spoke with Israel’s public broadcaster, Israel is presenting three key demands during the negotiations:

No foreign military forces near Israel’s border that could pose a security threat.

No strategic weapons stationed in Syria that could endanger Israel.

Turkey must not establish military bases inside Syrian territory.

INDIRECT TALKS CONFIRMED
The talks follow a statement made yesterday in Paris by Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa, who acknowledged that Syria is holding indirect talks with Israel to calm tensions.

Reuters previously reported that Turkey has shown interest in setting up military bases across parts of Syria—raising Israeli concerns.

MILITARY BUILD-UP AND STRIKES
Two days ago, Israeli sources revealed that the IDF has doubled its presence in the Golan Heights and the buffer zone with Syria. This military posture coincides with coordination efforts between Israel and Ankara regarding operations inside Syria, according to Yedioth Ahronoth.

Israel recently carried out a strike near the presidential palace in Damascus, and over 20 air raids last Saturday targeted military sites and weapons depots throughout Syria—described by AFP as “the most violent since the beginning of the year.”

ISRAEL’S RED LINES
In a joint statement with Defense Minister Israel Katz, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared: “This is a clear message to the Syrian regime: Israel will not allow Syrian forces to deploy south of Damascus or to threaten the Druze community in any way.”

Since the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime last December, Israel has launched dozens of air, sea, and ground strikes on Syrian military positions, and its forces have entered the buffer zone, advancing toward Syrian Golan, Mount Hermon, and other areas in southern Syria.