Syria condemns Netanyahu visit to Israeli troops as breach of sovereignty

The United Nations ambassador of Syria denounced Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's visit to troops in southern Syria, deeming it a violation of national sovereignty and international law. The Israeli leader had entered Syrian territory on Wednesday and journeyed to the summit of Mount Hermon, according to Ibrahim Olaibi, who briefed reporters at UN headquarters about the situation.

Olaibi emphasized that "territorial integrity is not negotiable," stating that it is a "fundamental pillar of the international system" and the "first line of defence against global instability." He warned that any attempt to undermine this principle would destabilize the entire framework that safeguards peace and order.

Olaibi was accompanied by representatives from the Arab Group, the Organisation of Islamic Co-operation, and other UN member states. They reiterated that the UN Charter and the 1974 disengagement agreement between Syrian and Israeli forces were "clear and must be respected." The UN ambassador cautioned that any Israeli military, political, or other actions could jeopardize the progress Syrian authorities have made during a crucial phase in the country's transition.

Olaibi also highlighted that Syria had consistently distanced itself from the escalating regional conflict and reiterated its commitment to not posing a threat to neighboring nations.

While Netanyahu was in southern Syria, he reportedly claimed that Iran's government was on the brink of collapse due to the intensifying six-month Middle East war. Speaking alongside Defense Minister Israel Katz on the Syrian side of Mount Hermon, Netanyahu asserted that Israel's primary goal remained toppling Iran's regime, which he believed was "very close" to being achieved.

Additionally, he vowed that Israel would not permit what he termed a "terrorist army" to establish itself along its border. It is important to note that Israeli forces have maintained a presence in a security zone in southern Syria since the fall of former President Bashar Al-Assad in December 2024. The troops moved into an area previously designated as a UN-patrolled buffer zone that separated Israeli and Syrian forces along the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights under the 1974 disengagement agreement.