Syria has called on the United Nations and the Security Council to assume responsibility and put an end to what it describes as Israel’s aggressive policies that threaten to ignite the region and push it towards a comprehensive escalation, endangering regional and international peace and security. This appeal comes in the wake of an Israeli airstrike near Damascus on December 25th, which resulted in the death of the military advisor at the Iranian embassy in Damascus, Reza Mousavi.
The Syrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in identical letters addressed to the UN institutions, condemned this act as a blatant violation of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.
The Syrian Ministry stated that the Israeli aggression represents an ongoing attempt by Israeli authorities to escalate their aggression in the region, covering up their daily war crimes, genocides, and brutal massacres against the unarmed Palestinian people. This aggression is also seen as an attempt to divert attention from their failures in facing the Palestinian people’s will for freedom, self-determination, and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital.
Syria affirmed its steadfast right to defend its sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity, and unity – a right emphasized by Article 51 of the United Nations Charter. The Syrian Ministry emphasized that these hysterical Israeli attacks would not deter Syria from continuing its fight against terrorism, supported by Israel and its backers, nor would it weaken its determination to reclaim its occupied territories.
Finally, Syria demanded that the Security Council take responsibility for putting an end to Israel’s aggressive policies, which pose a significant threat to regional and international peace and security.
Israel’s operations in Syria have primarily been driven by its opposition to the Iranian presence in the region. Since the Syrian Civil War began, Israel has been concerned about Iran’s military entrenchment in Syria and the potential threat this poses to its security.
Israel’s stance on the Iranian presence in Syria has been evident in various incidents and developments over the years. One of the notable aspects of Israel’s role in Syria has been its repeated air strikes targeting Hezbollah and Iranian assets within Syrian territories. These strikes have been part of Israel’s broader strategy to prevent Iran and its allies, like Hezbollah, from gaining a foothold in Syria and obtaining advanced weapons that could be used against Israel.
In addition to military actions, Israel has also been involved in diplomatic efforts concerning Syria. For instance, Israel opposed the ceasefire agreement brokered by the United States and Russia in July 2017 for southwest Syria. The Israeli government expressed concerns that the agreement did not adequately address its security interests, particularly regarding the presence of Iranian forces and Hezbollah in the region.
Israel’s involvement in Syria has also been marked by incidents along the Israeli-Syrian ceasefire line during the civil war. These incidents, which began in late 2012, have included exchanges of fire and have strained relations between the two countries.
Moreover, the situation in Syria has been further complicated by the involvement of other external parties, such as Russia and the United States, each with its own interests and strategies in the region. The Syrian government’s alliances with Iran and Russia, and the opposition forces’ backing by various international actors, including the United States and some European and regional countries, have contributed to the complexity of the conflict.
