Escalating Tensions in Syria: Israel Advances into Syrian Territories

Israeli Tanks in Syrian Territory Photo: Arab News

December 10, 2024 Hour: 6:05 pm

Recent reports indicate that Israeli fighter jets have bombed approximately 250 targets in Syria, including the Scientific Research Center in Damascus, which was completely destroyed during a recent attack. The situation is further complicated by the Israeli army’s occupation of nine villages in the rural area south of Damascus.

Reports suggest that Zionist forces have advanced to within just 10 kilometers of the peripheral neighborhoods of the Syrian capital and 15 kilometers from the urban center. This military escalation not only jeopardizes Syrian national sovereignty but also threatens regional stability.

The Syrian newspaper Al-Watan has highlighted these incursions as a flagrant violation of international law and a hostile act that must be condemned by the international community. The civilian population finds itself trapped in the midst of this conflict, suffering the direct consequences of a war that seems endless.

Hezbollah Warns of Zionist Expansionism

The Lebanese movement Hezbollah has issued a statement strongly condemning the recent Israeli aggression against Syria, noting that these attacks reflect the persistent desire of the Zionist regime to destabilize Lebanon. Hezbollah emphasizes that attacks on Syria have intensified since the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s government and warns that these actions are occurring simultaneously with ongoing military aggressions against Lebanon and Gaza.

The Islamic Resistance movement underscores that continued attacks could have dangerous consequences for regional stability and calls on the international community, especially Arab and Islamic countries, to take firm stances against what it considers crimes by the Israeli regime.

Hezbollah stresses that the Zionist regime’s efforts to seize new Syrian lands are an extension of the occupation initiated in 1967 in the Golan Heights. According to Hezbollah, this strategy aims not only to weaken Syria but also to alter the balance of power throughout the region, putting at risk the sovereignty and rights of Arab peoples. The current situation demands a collective and decisive response from Arab and Islamic states to counter Israeli aggressions and protect the territorial integrity of Syria and Lebanon.

International Reactions: Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Iraq Condemn Occupation

In a show of unity among Arab countries, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Iraq have issued strong statements against Israel’s recent occupation of Syrian territory following the fall of President Bashar al-Assad’s government. These nations have characterized Israeli actions as a blatant attack on Syria’s sovereignty and unity, as well as a serious violation of international law.

Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs described Israel’s incursion into Syrian territory as a dangerous act that could exacerbate violence and tension in the region. In its statement, Qatar warned that “the policy of imposing facts on the ground” by Israel undermines not only Syrian sovereignty but also threatens to further destabilize the regional environment. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia condemned Israeli actions and denounced ongoing violations by Israel of international law norms, emphasizing that the Golan Heights is occupied Arab territory.

Iraq also joined this wave of condemnation, labeling Israeli aggression in Syria as a “serious violation of international law.” The Iraqi Foreign Ministry called on the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to assume its responsibility in this matter, condemn Israeli actions, and take effective measures to end Zionist expansionism in the region.

Iran Condemns Israeli Actions in the Golan Heights

Iran’s Foreign Ministry has expressed its strong condemnation regarding Israel’s occupation of parts of Syrian Golan Heights as well as recent attacks on military and civilian infrastructure in Syria. Reports indicate that Israeli warplanes carried out around 150 attacks against various military targets across Syrian territory recently. Esmail Baqai, spokesperson for Iran’s Foreign Ministry, harshly criticized Western countries supporting Israel for their silence and inaction regarding what he termed a “flagrant violation” of international law.

Baqai warned that this lack of response is interpreted as tacit approval for aggressive actions by the Zionist regime. He emphasized that Israel’s recent aggression against Syria constitutes “a clear violation” of the UN Charter. In this regard, he urged the UNSC to take immediate action to halt Israeli offensives and hold the regime accountable for its acts.

Referring specifically to Israel’s occupation of Golan Heights, Baqai stressed that this situation reflects Israel’s expansionist and militaristic approach as well as its disregard for international legal norms. The occupation not only affects Syrian sovereignty but also contributes to an atmosphere of instability throughout the region.

Iranian positions highlight growing concerns about how Israeli actions can destabilize not just Syria but also regional equilibrium overall. The international community faces a critical challenge in addressing these violations while working towards a peaceful solution that respects sovereignty and human rights in the Levant.