Syria condemns Netanyahu visit to Israeli troops as breach of sovereignty

The UN ambassador for Syria denounced Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's trip to troops in southern Syria, deeming it a violation of national sovereignty and international law. Mr Netanyahu ventured into Syrian territory on Wednesday and proceeded to reach the summit of Mount Hermon, according to Ibrahim Olaibi, who briefed reporters at the UN headquarters.

Olaibi emphasized that "territorial integrity is not negotiable" and is a crucial foundation of the international order. He warned that breaching it would cause the entire global security structure to collapse. Joined by delegates from the Arab Group and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, as well as other UN member states, Olaibi stressed that the UN Charter and the 1974 disengagement agreement between Syrian and Israeli forces are "unambiguous and must be upheld".

He cautioned that any Israeli actions, whether military, political, or otherwise, could jeopardize Syria's government's progress during a crucial phase of its political transformation. Olaibi reiterated that Syria has consistently distanced itself from the ongoing regional tensions and assured that Damascus had no intention of threatening its neighbors.

During his visit to the southern Syrian region, Netanyahu claimed that Iran's regime was near collapse due to the escalating six-month Middle East conflict. Alongside Defence Minister Israel Katz, he stated that Israel's primary aim was to bring down Iran's government, which he believed was "very close" to achieving. He also asserted that Israel would not permit a "terrorist army" to establish itself near its border.

Israeli forces have had a presence in a security zone in southern Syria since the demise of the former leader Bashar Al Assad in December 2024. The troops entered an area that had previously functioned as a UN-monitored buffer zone separating Israeli and Syrian forces along the Golan Heights, which was demarcated under a 1974 disengagement accord.