Syria on Saturday renewed its rejection of violations of its sovereignty and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s entry into its territory, as Israeli forces continued a weeklong escalation of artillery fire and incursions around Beit Jinn, on the slopes of Mount Hermon in western rural Damascus.
Residents fear an Israeli incursion into the town could lead to a repeat of events in late 2025, when dozens were killed or wounded in clashes between residents and an Israeli patrol that entered Beit Jinn.
Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani said Syria had clearly reaffirmed before the UN Security Council, with the support of more than 40 countries, its rejection of violations of its sovereignty and Netanyahu’s entry into Syrian territory.
In a post on X, al-Shaibani stressed that Damascus remained committed to the country’s unity, independent decision-making and territorial integrity. He welcomed the international response supporting Syria in the face of continuing Israeli violations and said Damascus would continue to defend its national rights through legitimate political and diplomatic means under international law and the UN Charter.
Representatives of several UN member states, joined by Syria’s Permanent Representative to the UN Ibrahim Olabi, gathered outside the Security Council in New York on Friday to denounce Netanyahu’s entry into Syrian territory and reaffirm Syria’s sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity.
Netanyahu, accompanied by Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz, entered the Syrian side of Mount Hermon on Sept. 9, where Israeli forces are deployed.
Damascus strongly condemned what it called Netanyahu’s “illegal entry” into Syrian territory and his tour of Mount Hermon, describing it as a flagrant violation of Syria’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and international law.
Syria held Israel fully responsible for the consequences of the violations and called on the UN, international organizations and influential countries to act to halt the attacks and ensure a return to the Disengagement Agreement.
Meanwhile, local sources in Beit Jinn told Asharq Al-Awsat that more than 10 Israeli military vehicles and two tanks had entered farmland belonging to the village of Mazraat Beit Jinn, east of the town.
The incursion came hours after Israeli artillery fire struck the Ain al-Shaara area north of Beit Jinn, with the shell landing on agricultural land.
Israeli forces had repeatedly shelled areas around Mazraat Beit Jinn and Bat al-Warda hill since Sept. 3, without reported casualties or material damage. An Israeli drone had also struck a civilian vehicle on the road to the town, wounding several civilians.
Local sources voiced fears of a repeat of Nov. 28, 2025, when an Israeli military patrol entered Beit Jinn, triggering fierce clashes with residents that killed 13 people from the town and wounded 24 others.
The escalation in western rural Damascus comes as Israeli forces continue incursions and attacks on towns and villages in rural Daraa and Quneitra near the ceasefire line. The operations have continued since the first day following the fall of former President Bashar al-Assad’s government on Dec. 8, 2024.
