The United Arab Emirates and several Arab nations reaffirmed their commitment to the security, unity, and sovereignty of Syria while rejecting external interventions in its affairs. They condemned the ongoing Israeli attacks on Syria and called on the UN Security Council to fulfill its responsibilities by ensuring Israel’s complete withdrawal from the occupied Syrian territories.
Over the past two days, the foreign ministers of Jordan, the UAE, Bahrain, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Oman, Qatar, Kuwait, Lebanon, and Egypt engaged in thorough discussions regarding the situation in Syria. They sought to establish a unified stance and collaborate in supporting the Syrian government in its reconstruction efforts based on principles that guarantee the country’s security, stability, unity, sovereignty, and the rights of all its citizens.
In a joint statement, the ministers emphasized:
– Support for the security, unity, stability, and sovereignty of Syria, alongside a rejection of all external interference in its affairs.
– Approval of the agreement reached to resolve the crisis in the Sweida Governorate and a commitment to its implementation, ensuring the safety of Syria and its citizens and upholding state sovereignty and the rule of law while preventing bloodshed.
– Acknowledgment of Syrian President Ahmad al-Shara’s pledge to hold accountable those responsible for violations against Syrian citizens in Sweida, and support for all efforts to ensure security and rule of law across Syria while rejecting violence, sectarianism, and any attempts to incite division and hatred.
– Condemnation of the repeated Israeli attacks on Syria, which are considered blatant violations of international law and a direct assault on Syria’s sovereignty, undermining its security, stability, and territorial integrity as well as the progress sought by the Syrian government in building a new Syria that aligns with the aspirations of its people.
– Recognition that Syria’s security and stability are vital for regional security and a shared priority.
– A call for the international community to support the Syrian government in its reconstruction process and for the UN Security Council to take on its legal and moral responsibilities by ensuring Israel’s full withdrawal from the occupied Syrian territories, halting all Israeli aggression against Syria, and enforcing Resolution 2766 and the 1974 Disengagement Agreement.
Allegations of Division
President Ahmad al-Shara alleged that Israel is attempting to divide the country. In a televised address, he accused Israel of trying to “undermine the unity of our people,” stating that it has consistently targeted Syria’s stability and fostered discord since the fall of the previous regime.
He added that protecting the rights of Druze citizens is “a top priority.” He urged the Druze community, saying, “We reject any attempts to drag you into external conflicts.” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu remarked that Israel has adopted a policy focused on disarming areas near the border, which, according to him, has seen Syrian troops moved south of Damascus to a zone that was supposed to remain demilitarized, as reported by Yedioth Ahronoth.
Withdrawal of Forces
Government forces reportedly withdrew overnight from Sweida, where the conflict between Druze fighters and government troops, along with Bedouin clans, resulted in numerous casualties over several days.
The city of Sweida appeared devastated after the fierce clashes, with the main hospital out of service and bodies piling up within it, compounded by prolonged power, water, and communication outages. A military leader from the Syrian Bedouins indicated that fighters from their group launched a new attack on Druze fighters in Sweida despite a ceasefire declared the day before. This leader asserted that the ceasefire applied only to government forces and not to the Bedouin fighters.