Syria, Israel near 'de-escalation' pact, US envoy says

Syria and Israel are close to striking a "de-escalation" agreement in which Israel will stop its attacks while Syria will agree not to move any machinery or heavy equipment near the Israeli border, a senior US envoy said, Report informs via The Jerusalem Post.

Speaking to journalists on the sidelines of UN General Assembly meetings in New York, US Special Envoy for Syria Tom Barrack said the agreement would serve as the first step towards the security deal that the two countries have been negotiating.

Syria and Israel are in talks to reach an agreement that Damascus hopes will secure a halt to Israeli airstrikes and the withdrawal of Israeli troops who have pushed into southern Syria.