Israel denies report that Syrian president and Israeli NSC head met in Abu Dhabi

Both Israel and Syria deny reports of a meeting between National Security Council head Tzachi Hanegbi and Syrian President Ahmed Al-Sharaa in the United Arab Emirates this week.

Earlier today, two Arab media outlets cited what they said were informed sources claiming that Hanegbi—who is leading direct talks with the Syrian government on potential security and diplomatic arrangements—met with the new Syrian president in Abu Dhabi on Monday, during the latter’s official visit to the UAE.

Asked whether such a meeting had taken place, the Prime Minister’s Office tells The Times of Israel: “No, he was here with the prime minister” in Washington.

Hanegbi has indeed been in Washington since Sunday and attended Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s evening dinner with US President Donald Trump yesterday, casting doubt on the reported date of the alleged meeting.

Syria’s state news agency also cites a source in the Syrian Ministry of Communications, who denies that any meeting took place.

The initial report, published by Lebanese outlet Unews, was later confirmed by independent Syrian news site Al-Jumhuriya, which cited two sources claiming that the Abu Dhabi meeting had indeed occurred. In the report, a Syrian source involved in the talks between the two neighbors and a regional diplomat asserted it was not the first such meeting between the two sides.

Last month, Hanegbi confirmed to Israel Hayom that he is leading “daily direct dialogue” between Israel and Syria and that the two governments are discussing the possibility of a peace agreement—one of the items reportedly on the agenda in Washington this week.

According to Axios, Netanyahu commented overnight: “There is an opportunity to explore in Syria. Iran is out of the picture. It could increase stability and security. There is a lot to gain for Syria from moving toward peace with Israel.”