Saudi Arabia condemns Israeli airstrikes on Syria as violation of international law

Saudi Arabia condemned a series of airstrikes conducted by Israel in Syria and accused it of destabilizing the region. In a statement Tuesday, the Foreign Ministry expressed its “condemnation and denunciation” of the strikes, calling them a “blatant violation of international law.” The ministry also denounced “Israeli attempts to undermine Syria’s security and stability as well as that of the region, through these repeated violations that contravene relevant international agreements and laws.” It urged the international community to take a stand against such attacks and called on UN Security Council member states to assume their responsibilities in confronting Israel’s continued strikes in Syria and preventing further escalation. The ministry also called for the activation of international accountability mechanisms for these violations and reiterated its solidarity with Syria’s government and people. On Monday, Syria’s civil defense said three people were killed and 19 injured, including four children and a woman, in Israeli airstrikes in the southern city of Daraa. After the fall of the Bashar al-Assad regime in December, Israel expanded its occupation of the Syrian Golan Heights by seizing the demilitarized buffer zone, a move that violated a 1974 disengagement agreement with Syria. Israel also launched hundreds of airstrikes that targeted military sites and assets across Syria, including fighter jets, missile systems and air defense installations, according to reports. Assad, Syria’s leader for nearly 25 years, fled to Russia after anti-regime groups took control of Damascus on Dec. 8, ending the Baath Party regime, which had been in power since 1963.