Israel will not leave Syrian territory, UN condemns
Last Updated on December 21, 2024 6:43 am
Israeli troops will not leave Syrian territory. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has announced that they will remain in the so-called ‘buffer zone’ of the occupied Golan Heights. However, the United Nations has strongly condemned Israel’s decision.
It is worth noting that Israel invaded and occupied this zone after the fall of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
Standing on the top of Mount Hermon (Jabal al-Sheikh in Arabic) in the Syrian Golan Heights on Tuesday, Netanyahu said, ‘Israeli troops will remain here until a solution is found that will ensure Israel’s security.’
Noting that he was on this mountain as a soldier 53 years ago, the Israeli prime minister said, but in the current situation, the strategic importance of this area has increased even more.
Israeli Defense Minister’s Comments
Meanwhile, Israeli Defense and War Affairs Minister Israel Katz was also present at the time. He said, “We will stay here as long as necessary. By occupying this area, we are strengthening our security.”
At the same time, Katz noted that from the top of Mount Hermon, Hezbollah’s position in Lebanon and Damascus’s position in Syria can be clearly seen.
Israeli troops occupied the Golan Heights buffer zone on December 8 with the help of armed groups that occupied the Syrian capital Damascus after the fall of President Bashar al-Assad. This buffer zone was established by the United Nations after the 1974 Arab-Israeli war.
UN statement
In this regard, Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, said, “The presence of Israeli troops there, no matter how long it lasts, is a violation of international law. An occupation is an occupation, whether it is for a week, a month, a year or a day.
He also said that according to the UN agreement, no occupation is acceptable in this buffer zone and such actions by Israel are a clear violation of this agreement.
In other words, Israel’s announcement to continue its presence in the Syrian buffer zone has sparked widespread criticism in the international community. The UN has called this move by Israel an illegal occupation. Source: Mehr News Agency