Syria Complains to UN About Repeated Israeli Attacks

An Israeli raid on the outskirts of Damascus. (Syrian Observatory for Human Rights)
An Israeli raid on the outskirts of Damascus. (Syrian Observatory for Human Rights)
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Syria Complains to UN About Repeated Israeli Attacks

An Israeli raid on the outskirts of Damascus. (Syrian Observatory for Human Rights)
An Israeli raid on the outskirts of Damascus. (Syrian Observatory for Human Rights)

The Syrian Foreign Ministry warned of the consequences of the continuation of Israeli attacks on its territories, urging decisive measures from the UN Security Council to put an end to them.

“Syria calls on the Security Council to assume its responsibilities in the implementation of what is stipulated in the Charter of the United Nations and international humanitarian law,” the ministry said in two letters to the UN Secretary-General and Head of the UN Security Council on Friday.

It said, “the Israeli occupation authorities again defy the world public opinion, UN resolutions and the calls of most members of the Security Council not to expand the existing aggression against the Palestinian people by launching two new air attacks on Syrian territory.”

The latest attacks struck near Damascus and in southern regions.

Foreign Ministry noted that the United States, France, Britain and other countries clearly see that Israel has entirely violated international and humanitarian laws without mercy.

“The new aggressions against Syrian territory and the ongoing threats against Lebanon and other Arab countries in the region reveal the true goals of the Zionist entity, which seeks to expand in the region at the expense of Arab rights in Palestine and other occupied territories”, the Foreign Ministry stated.

On Friday, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) said that before midnight on Thursday Israel fired missiles on the area of Damascus International Airport a day after the airport started operating again after being out of service for 65 days since an Israeli attack on October 22.

In the South, Israel fired missiles on a checkpoint of a battalion of the Air Defense in Tel Sahn eastern of Al-Hueya Village in the Suweida countryside, the watchdog said.

Later, SOHR said Israeli aircrafts carried out a second round of attacks on air defense positions in the Damascus countryside.

Syrian air defenses in Qasioun mountain responded to the attacks.

The Observatory documented 73 attacks in 2023, including 49 airstrikes and 24 rocket attacks by ground forces. The attacks destroyed nearly 143 targets, including buildings, weapons and ammunitions warehouses, and vehicles, and killed 120 soldiers and injured 136 others.



Syria Puts Entry Restrictions On Lebanese After Border Clash

Cars line up to enter Lebanon after the ouster of Bashar al-Assad near the Lebanese-Syrian border (Reuters)
Cars line up to enter Lebanon after the ouster of Bashar al-Assad near the Lebanese-Syrian border (Reuters)
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Syria Puts Entry Restrictions On Lebanese After Border Clash

Cars line up to enter Lebanon after the ouster of Bashar al-Assad near the Lebanese-Syrian border (Reuters)
Cars line up to enter Lebanon after the ouster of Bashar al-Assad near the Lebanese-Syrian border (Reuters)

Syria has imposed new restrictions on the entry of Lebanese citizens, two security sources from Lebanon told AFP on Friday, following what the Lebanese army said was a border skirmish with armed Syrians.

The developments appeared to be the first instance of diplomatic friction between the two neighbours since opposition factions topped longtime Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad last month.

Lebanese nationals had previously been allowed into Syria without a visa, using just their passport or ID.

But a Lebanese General Security official told AFP Friday that they were "surprised to see the border had been closed" to Lebanese citizens "from the Syrian side".

The official, who like other sources spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive matters, said that no new border measures had been communicated to them yet.

A security source at Masnaa, the main land border crossing between the two countries, said Syrian authorities had implemented "new procedures" since last night, only allowing in Lebanese with residency permits or official permission.

The Lebanese army said in a statement on X that its soldiers and Syrians had clashed at the border as the armed forces tried to "close an illegal crossing".

"Syrians attempted to open the crossing using a bulldozer, so army personnel fired warning shots into the air. The Syrians opened fire on army personnel, injuring one of them and provoking a clash".

"Army units deployed in the sector have taken strict military measures," the statement added.

Earlier, a Lebanese military official had said Syria's move followed "skirmishes between the Lebanese army and Syrian armed men at the border" who were briefly detained by the army.