Mon Dec 09 21:14:27 UTC 2024: ## Arab Nations Condemn Israel’s Seizure of Syrian Land Following Assad’s Ouster

**Damascus/Jerusalem –** Arab nations have strongly condemned Israel’s seizure of a buffer zone in the Syrian Golan Heights following the reported ouster of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Iraq all issued statements decrying the move as a violation of international law and a threat to Syria’s sovereignty.

Israel, which occupied most of the Golan Heights in 1967 and annexed it in 1981, justified the land grab as a response to the changed security situation. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated the area would remain under Israeli control “for eternity,” and thanked US President-elect Donald Trump for his past recognition of Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights. However, the UN Secretary-General’s spokesman, Stephane Dujarric, confirmed that the action violates the 1974 disengagement agreement between Israel and Syria. The UN peacekeeping force in the Golan Heights (UNDOF) also reported the violation to Israeli counterparts. Israel’s Ambassador to the UN, Danny Danon, described the military deployment as “limited and temporary.”

The land grab is not the only Israeli action in Syria. Since the reported fall of Assad’s government, Israel has launched a series of extensive air strikes across the country, targeting multiple airbases and military assets near Damascus, Homs, Qamishli, and Latakia. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported over 100 strikes on Monday alone, aiming to degrade the Syrian military’s capabilities, according to the Observatory’s head, Rami Abdel Rahman. While Israel typically does not claim responsibility for such attacks, the scale and timing of the strikes raise significant international concern.

The Arab League’s condemnation underscores the heightened tensions in the region, with concerns mounting over the potential for further escalation. The international community is closely watching the situation, particularly the UN Security Council, which has been urged by Iraq to condemn the Israeli actions and ensure an end to the aggression.

Read More