Arab states condemn Netanyahu’s incursion into Mount Hermon in Syria

Several Arab countries on Thursday condemned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s illegal entry into Syria’s Mount Hermon and urged the UN Security Council to take action to halt attacks on the sovereignty of the Arab country, Anadolu reports.

Netanyahu entered the occupied Syrian area of Mount Hermon on Wednesday accompanied by Defense Minister Israel Katz, in a move that observers viewed as part of his campaign ahead of Knesset elections scheduled for Oct. 27.

In a statement, the Kuwaiti Foreign Ministry strongly condemned Netanyahu’s “illegal entry” into Syrian territory, describing it as a “flagrant violation” of Syria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and a “blatant breach” of international law.

It said continued Israeli incursions and attacks inside Syrian territory represented an “escalation that undermined security and stability in the region.”

It also demanded that the UN Security Council fulfill its responsibilities by stopping the attacks and ensuring Israel’s compliance with relevant international resolutions, stressing the need to respect the 1974 Agreement on Disengagement of Forces between Syria and Israel.

Similarly, Qatar strongly condemned Netanyahu’s “illegal entry” into Syrian territory and crossing of international borders.

The Foreign Ministry said it constituted a “blatant violation” of the sovereignty of the Syrian Arab Republic and a “flagrant breach” of international law.

The ministry urged the international community to take urgent action to compel Israel to comply with international resolutions, particularly the 1974 Agreement on Disengagement of Forces, and to halt its repeated attacks on Syrian territory.

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Saudi Arabia also condemned in the strongest terms the “illegal entry” as a “flagrant violation” of Syria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and a blatant breach of international law.

In a statement, the Saudi Foreign Ministry stressed the need for Israel to “halt its violations and actions against Syrian territory and to comply with the 1974 Agreement on Disengagement of Forces to preserve regional security and stability.”

Separately, Egypt condemned the “repeated Israeli incursions” into Syrian territory.

In a statement, the Foreign Ministry rejected all Israeli violations and incursions, warning that “continued escalation could fuel tensions and undermine regional security and stability.”

It reaffirmed Egypt’s full solidarity with Syria and support for its sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity.

The Syrian Foreign Ministry on Wednesday also condemned Netanyahu’s “illegal entry” as a “provocative” move and a violation of its sovereignty, territorial integrity and international law.

Jordan’s Foreign Ministry called the “flagrant violation” of Syria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity a “blatant breach” of international law.

In a video filmed during his visit, Netanyahu, wearing a bulletproof vest, said he was standing at the summit of Mount Hermon on the eve of the Jewish New Year, pointing to Damascus, Lebanon and the Syrian Golan Heights.

Netanyahu claimed Israel had established unprecedented “absolute control” over the area stretching from Mount Hermon toward the Yarmouk River.

He said Israel would not allow “terrorist forces” to establish a presence near its borders.

Katz, meanwhile, signaled that Israel intended to maintain its occupation of the area. “We are here on Mount Hermon, and we will not move from here,” he said in a separate video.

Israel has occupied Syria’s Golan Heights since 1967 and unilaterally annexed the territory in 1981, a move not recognized by the international community.

READ: Syria condemns Netanyahu’s ‘illegal entry’ into its territory on Mount Hermon