Syria's Shiyani holds talks with Mossad chief to ease tensions

Syria's Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shiyani met with Israeli intelligence service Mossad chief Roman Gofman in an effort to reduce tensions, Reuters reported. The meeting took place on Sunday. The talks followed Israel's recent strike on the Abu Zuhur air base in Syria. According to Reuters, citing three sources, Shiyani and Gofman held a phone call on August 14, with the discussion also covering Turkey's military presence in Syria. Shiyani had said negotiations with Israel were suspended after the Abu Zuhur air base strike, but that he expected them to resume soon. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu alleged that Syria's administration was preparing to allow Turkish forces to deploy at the base.