Why Did Syria Condemn Israeli Strikes in Damascus?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Syria condemned Israeli airstrikes as violations of sovereignty.
- Strikes resulted in civilian injuries and significant damage.
- Syria holds Israel accountable for escalating tensions.
- Calls for UN intervention to address violations.
- International response is critical for regional stability.
Damascus, July 17 (NationPress) Syria has strongly denounced the Israeli airstrikes that targeted government facilities in the capital, describing them as a flagrant infringement of both national sovereignty and international law.
In a statement issued by the foreign affairs ministry on Wednesday, Syria asserted that the airstrikes aimed at civilian infrastructure and government institutions in Damascus and nearby areas, resulting in injuries to numerous civilians, including women and children, along with significant material destruction.
The statement characterized these attacks as a manifestation of Israel's ongoing policy of escalation and efforts to undermine Syria and the broader region, labeling them as a direct violation of the United Nations Charter and international humanitarian law.
"Syria holds Israel completely accountable for this perilous escalation," the statement declared, emphasizing that Syria will exercise its legitimate right to self-defense through all means allowed under international law.
The statement also urged the United Nations and the global community, including the Security Council, to denounce the persistent Israeli strikes on Syrian soil and to take immediate and decisive actions to halt what it termed Israel's recurrent violations.
Later that day, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the Israeli airstrikes, according to reports from the Xinhua news agency.
"The Secretary-General further condemns Israel's escalating airstrikes on Sweida, Daraa, and central Damascus, as well as reports of the IDF's repositioning of forces in the Golan," stated Guterres's spokesperson, Stephane Dujarric.
The strikes occurred as Israel initiated a series of assaults on Syrian military positions in Damascus and Sweida, amidst ongoing conflict involving Druze militias, Bedouin fighters, and Syrian government forces in southern Syria.