Syria does not formally recognize Israel, which following the fall of longtime Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad in December moved troops into a buffer zone along the Syrian border to secure a military position.

Al-Jolani — born Ahmed al-Sharaa — rose from al-Qaeda in Iraq to lead al-Nusra Front and a war that devastated a nation.

'He gets along very well with Turkey and President Erdogan. We're also working with Israel on getting along with Syria.'

A video shows Syrian president Ahmed al-Sharaa playing basketball with CENTCOM general.

On Monday, Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa rejected the possibility of his country joining the Abraham Accords.

They flew from the United States to Jordan and entered Syria from the Jordanian border, staying at local hotels throughout their visit and departing three days later.

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz warned that IDF strikes against Syrian regime forces near Sweida would intensify if threats to the Druze population persist.

The contacts mark a significant development in ties between states that have been on opposite sides of conflict in the Middle East for decades

The intelligence source said UAE security officials, Syrian intelligence officials and former Israeli intelligence officials were involved in the mechanism, among others.