Syria Condemns Israeli Attack on Southern Military Facilities
Xinhua News Agency, Damascus, March 20 (Reporter Lin Jianjie, Ji Ze) The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Syrian Transitional Government issued a statement on the 20th, condemning Israel's attack on military infrastructure in southern Syria that day.
The statement said that this attack openly violates the principles of international law and the United Nations Charter, and constitutes an infringement on Syria's sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The statement called on Israel to bear full responsibility for all consequences of this dangerous escalation and urged the international community to stop Israel's ongoing aggression and threatening policies against Syria and the entire Middle East region.
Earlier that day, the Israeli Ministry of Defense issued a statement saying that the Israeli military launched attacks on a command post and weapons depot of the Syrian Transitional Government's forces in southern Syria in response to an incident involving Druze people in the Suweida region on the 19th.
After the dramatic changes in Syria's political situation in December 2024, Israel, citing "self-defense," deployed troops to occupy the Golan Heights buffer zone and further encroach on adjacent areas, insisting that it would only withdraw its troops after reaching a new agreement with the Syrian side to "ensure Israel's security." Israel is also seeking to cooperate with the Druze, who make up the majority of the population in southern Syria's Suweida province, to establish a so-called "defensive zone" in southern Syria and has publicly demanded the complete demilitarization of Suweida and the other two provinces in southern Syria.
On March 20, 2024, the Israeli Defense Forces conducted airstrikes on military infrastructure in southern Syria, targeting a command post and weapons depot. This action was described by Syria as a violation of international law and an infringement on its sovereignty. In response, Syria condemned the strikes and called for international intervention against Israel's ongoing military actions in the region.
- Syria condemned the Israeli airstrikes as a violation of international law.
- Israel targeted a command post and weapons depot of the Syrian transitional government.
- The airstrikes were a response to an incident involving Druze people in the Sweida region.
- Israel claims the strikes are part of its self-defense policy in the region.
- Syria demands accountability from Israel for the escalation.