Arab statements come as Israel continues to step up strikes across Syria after ouster of Bashar al-Assad’s government.
Published On 9 Dec 2024
Qatar, Iraq and Saudi Arabia have decried Israel’s seizure of land in Syria near the occupied Golan Heights as the Israeli military continues to launch air strikes across the country.
The Qatari Foreign Ministry said on Monday that Doha considers the Israeli incursion “a dangerous development and a blatant attack on Syria’s sovereignty and unity as well as a flagrant violation of international law”.
“The policy of imposing a fait accompli pursued by the Israeli occupation, including its attempts to occupy Syrian territories, will lead the region to further violence and tension,” it added.
Israel started attacking Syria after the armed opposition in the country toppled the government of former President Bashar al-Assad early on Sunday.
Saudi Arabia slammed the Israeli moves on Monday, saying that they confirm “Israel’s continued violation of the rules of international law and its determination to sabotage Syria’s chances of restoring its security, stability and territorial integrity”.
The kingdom’s Foreign Ministry also called on the international community to denounce the Israeli campaign, stressing that the Golan Heights is an occupied Arab territory.
Baghdad echoed the criticism, saying Israel has committed a “grave violation under international law”.
Iraq “stresses the importance of maintaining Syria’s sovereignty and integrity and calls on the UN Security Council to uphold its responsibility and condemn this aggression … and put an end to it,” a statement by the Iraqi Ministry of Foreign Affairs read.
On Sunday, Israel quickly moved in and seized the buffer zone separating the occupied Golan Heights from Syrian-controlled areas. The Israeli military also warned Syrians living in five villages near the strategic area to “stay home”.
Israel occupied most of the Golan Heights in 1967 and illegally annexed the territory in 1981.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he ordered Israeli forces to grab the buffer zone, established in a 1974 ceasefire with Syria, shortly after al-Assad was overthrown.
Speaking to