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Damascus condemns Israel Katz after visit with IDF soldiers on Mount Hermon

From Jerusalem Post · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Syria's government condemned Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz's visit to Mount Hermon as an illegal and provocative violation of international law.
  • Syria's Foreign Affairs Ministry called on the international community to pressure Israel to withdraw from the territory and respect Syrian sovereignty.
  • Katz stated Israel will not leave Mount Hermon as long as jihadist threats exist, emphasizing its strategic importance overlooking Damascus and Lebanon.

Syria's government has strongly condemned Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz's visit to Mount Hermon, labeling it an "illegal" and "blatant provocation." In a statement posted on X, Syria's Foreign Affairs Ministry asserted that the visit violates international law, the UN Charter, and the 1974 Disengagement Agreement. The ministry urged the international community to pressure Israel to cease its "repeated violations" and withdraw from the territory, demanding respect for Syria's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The Foreign Affairs Ministry stresses that these hostile practices constitute a blatant provocation and a clear violation of international law and the United Nations Charter, as well as a breach of the 1974 Disengagement Agreement, which requires respect for the ceasefire lines and not crossing them.

— Syrian Foreign Affairs MinistrySyria's condemnation of Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz's visit to Mount Hermon.

Katz, during his visit with IDF soldiers stationed on Mount Hermon, declared that Israel "will not move from Mount Hermon and the security zone as long as there are jihadist threats to the State of Israel." He conveyed a clear message to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, stating that seeing the IDF on Mount Hermon serves as a reminder of Israel's commitment to protecting its communities and border. Katz highlighted the strategic value of the location, noting its vantage point over Damascus, approximately 35 kilometers away, and the Bekaa Valley in Lebanon, a Hezbollah stronghold.

The message to the Syrian president is clear. When you wake up in the morning in the palace in Damascus and look up at Mount Hermon and see the IDF, you know that we are here to protect our communities and our border.

— Israel KatzIsraeli Defense Minister's statement during his visit to Mount Hermon.

This incident follows recent Israeli airstrikes in Syria. On Saturday, the IDF conducted a strike near Damascus targeting a terrorist preparing an attack. This came after a larger strike on August 18 against the Abu al-Duhur military airfield in Idlib province. Experts suggested this earlier strike aimed to avoid direct confrontation with Turkey amid a Turkish military buildup in the region.

It overlooks Damascus from above, 35 kilometers away, overlooking the Bekaa Valley in Lebanon, a Hezbollah stronghold from above.

— Israel KatzIsraeli Defense Minister highlighting the strategic significance of Mount Hermon.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Jerusalem Post. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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