What Did the Syrian Leader Say About the Israeli Attacks?

Damascus, July 17 (NationPress) The Syrian interim leader Ahmad al-Sharaa on Thursday vehemently criticized the recent Israeli airstrikes on Damascus, asserting the government's dedication to safeguarding all Syrians, with a particular focus on the Druze community.

"Our populace has fought a revolution for freedom and achieved victory through immense sacrifice. They stand prepared to defend their dignity whenever it is threatened," al-Sharaa stated during a nationally broadcast address.

In his remarks directed towards Israel, al-Sharaa accused the "Israeli entity" of persistently undermining Syrian stability and attempting to provoke internal discord since the previous Syrian regime's collapse.

He claimed that Israel's objective is to convert Syria into a perpetual conflict zone, erode its national unity, and hinder its reconstruction efforts, as reported by Xinhua news agency.

"Syria will not serve as a testing ground for foreign conspiracies, and we will not permit external ambitions to materialize at the expense of our children and our future," he added.

Addressing Syria's Druze community specifically, al-Sharaa reaffirmed its vital role within the nation.

"Safeguarding your rights and freedoms is paramount," he said. "We reject any attempts to involve you in foreign agendas or incite internal discord."

On Wednesday, Israel executed multiple waves of strikes in Damascus and Sweida, a region predominantly inhabited by Druze, aiming to ensure the safety of the Druze minority.

Earlier that day, Syria issued a statement denouncing the Israeli airstrikes on governmental buildings in the capital, Damascus, as a "blatant violation" of national sovereignty and international law.

Syria asserted that the strikes targeted "civilian infrastructure and government institutions" in Damascus and its outskirts, resulting in injuries to several civilians, including women and children, and causing significant material damage.

The statement characterized these attacks as reflective of Israel's "systematic policy of escalation" and its ongoing efforts to destabilize Syria and the broader region, labeling them as a clear infringement of the United Nations Charter and international humanitarian law.

"Syria holds Israel entirely accountable for this perilous escalation," the statement declared, adding that Syria will exercise its legitimate right to self-defense utilizing all means permitted under international law.

Furthermore, the statement urged the United Nations and the international community, including the Security Council, to condemn the recurrent Israeli strikes on Syrian territory and to take "urgent and decisive measures" to limit what it termed Israel's repeated violations.