Syria condemns Netanyahu’s tour of southern Syria as “dangerous escalation”

The Syrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Wednesday condemned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit to an area in southern Syria, describing it as a “serious violation of Syria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.”

In an official statement, the ministry said the visit marked “a new attempt to impose a fait accompli in contradiction with relevant UN Security Council resolutions,” adding that Israeli actions form part of “the occupation’s ongoing policy to entrench its aggression and extend its violations of Syrian territory.”

Damascus said it considers Netanyahu’s tour a “dangerous and unacceptable escalation,” accusing Israel of exploiting regional circumstances to strengthen what it called Israel’s “illegitimate military presence” in the south.

The ministry reiterated Syria’s demand for “the full withdrawal of the Israeli occupation from all Syrian territory,” stressing that Israeli measures in the region are “null and void, with no legal effect under international law.”

It urged the international community to “assume its responsibilities in deterring Israeli practices and compelling the occupation to withdraw completely from southern Syria,” underscoring the need to return to the 1974 Disengagement Agreement and respect internationally recognised borders.

Syria concluded by affirming it will “continue to defend its sovereignty and inalienable rights until all occupied territory is restored.”

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