The United Nations condemns the Israeli incursion into the Damascus countryside and warns
The United Nations strongly condemned the recent military actions in southern Syria, with the Deputy Special Envoy of the Secretary-General to Syria, Najat Rochdi, denouncing the Israeli incursion into the Damascus countryside. The UN official stressed that these actions constitute a flagrant violation of the sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity of the Syrian Arab Republic, warning that such steps exacerbate tensions and contribute to further destabilizing the fragile situation in the region.
Humanitarian consequences and displacement of residents
On the humanitarian front, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) painted a worrying picture of the situation on the ground. Initial UN reports indicated that airstrikes and military operations accompanying the incursion resulted in civilian casualties, reflecting the imminent danger to civilians. The reports also documented waves of displacement of dozens of families from the town of Beit Jinn and the surrounding farms, as residents were forced to leave their homes and seek refuge in neighboring areas, away from the fighting and shelling.
Violation of the 1974 Disengagement Agreement
In a related context, Rushdi reiterated the United Nations' call for all parties to fully adhere to the 1974 Disengagement Agreement. This agreement holds immense historical and strategic importance, having been signed between Syria and Israel in Geneva following the October War. It stipulated the establishment of ceasefire lines, buffer zones, and limited-armament areas under the supervision of the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF). Any ground incursion or artillery shelling within these areas constitutes a direct violation of the agreement, which has maintained a degree of relative calm in the Golan Heights for decades.
The strategic importance of the Beit Jann area
The danger of this incursion stems from the geographical and strategic importance of the Beit Jinn area in the western Damascus countryside. Located at the foot of Mount Hermon, it is a vital link near the Lebanese border and the ceasefire line in the occupied Golan Heights. This area has long been a focal point of security tensions due to its commanding position overlooking strategic corridors, making any change in the military situation there directly impact the regional security landscape.
Calls for calm and adherence to international resolutions
The Deputy Special Envoy concluded her remarks by reaffirming the United Nations' unwavering commitment to Syria's sovereignty and independence, calling for an immediate end to these violations, which could drag the region into unpredictable scenarios. She stressed that military solutions will only bring further destruction, and that adherence to international resolutions and restraint are the only way to spare civilians the horrors of conflict and preserve regional peace and security.
