Syria expects to finalise security and military agreements with Israel this year, an official said on Thursday (September 18, 2025), in what would be a breakthrough less than a year after Bashar al-Assad's ouster.

With the United States pushing for a settlement between the two neighbours, Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani arrived in Washington to discuss talks with Israel and the possible lifting of remaining sanctions on Syria, said the Foreign Ministry official.

Syria and Israel remain technically at war, but opened direct negotiations after Assad was toppled by an Islamist-led coalition in December last year.

"There is progress in the talks with Israel," said the official, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not allowed to brief the media, adding that several agreements were expected to be signed "by the end of the year".

"Primarily, these would be security and military agreements," he told AFP, adding there would be a focus on "an agreement to halt (Israeli) military operations inside Syria".