The Syrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has condemned Israeli Defense Minister Yisrael Katz's entry into Syrian territory, labeling the move a new violation of the country.
The ministry stated that Katz's presence in Syrian lands constitutes a "blatant violation of the country's sovereignty and territorial integrity," reaffirming Damascus's rejection of Israeli activities within Syrian borders.
The foreign ministry emphasized that such practices represent a "clear provocation and breach of international law and the United Nations Charter," as they disrupt the commitments of the 1974 disengagement agreement.
Ministry officials highlighted the necessity of respecting ceasefire lines amidst ongoing border tensions and Israeli operations within Syrian territories.
Syria's stance comes as Damascus repeatedly demands an end to Israeli incursions and calls for respect for the nation's sovereignty, relying on the 1974 disengagement agreement that has governed arrangements between the two sides since its inception.
The Syrian foreign ministry urged the international community to "fulfill its legal and political duties" by implementing measures to compel Israel to cease what they describe as "repeated violations."
The ministry also called for the "immediate and complete withdrawal from Syrian territories breached by occupying forces, adhering to the disengagement line," stressing the respect for the sovereignty and territorial unity of the Syrian Arab Republic.
The 1974 disengagement agreement is a fundamental reference for the existing arrangements between Syria and Israel, established after the October War of 1973; it outlines the separation of forces and monitoring arrangements for maintaining the ceasefire.
Damascus reiterated its commitment to sovereignty over its entire territory, rejecting any Israeli presence or movement within Syrian borders, and urged international pressure to cease these actions.
The Syrian foreign ministry considers the entry of the Israeli defense minister as part of a series of actions that Damascus views as breaches of its sovereignty, standing firm in demanding the withdrawal from areas occupied and a return to the arrangements stipulated by the 1974 agreement.
Meanwhile, Israeli Defense Minister Yisrael Katz reiterated that the Israeli army will not withdraw from the buffer zone in southern Syria during a visit to the area today.
Katz stated, "We will not move from Mount Hermon and the security zone as long as there are jihadist threats to the state of Israel," sending a message to Syrian President Ahmed Al-Shara: "When you wake up in the morning in the palace in Damascus and look at Mount Hermon and see the Israeli army, you will know we are here to defend our towns and borders."
He added that Israel "acted against a Turkish attempt to establish a presence in Syria while endangering Israeli security interests," referring to last week's Israeli airstrike targeting a Syrian airbase.
Katz concluded, "We have made this clear, and we will maintain this stance in the future as well."