Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani on Saturday condemned the Israeli attacks on his country, saying they not only threaten Syria, but also undermine regional peace and stability.
“These assaults constitute a flagrant breach of Syrian sovereignty and international law, threatening regional peace and stability,” he said, calling on the international community, the UN, and the Arab League to adopt a resolute stance to halt this aggression.
Al-Shaibani made the comments while receiving Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen and his accompanying delegation in Damascus.
Thirteen people were killed in an Israeli raid in the village of Beit Jinn, southern Syria, on Friday. Damascus accused Israel of a “criminal attack” in a village where Tel Aviv said its troops came under fire during an operation to arrest militants.
Al-Shaibani said Syria abides by the 1974 disengagement agreement with Israel, and that his country will not be dragged into wider conflicts.
Rasmussen affirmed his support for Syria’s recovery, state-building and all aspects that would help move the country toward a better future.
He said there are “about two million Syrians” who wish to return to their country, adding that this is one of the issues being discussed with the Syrian government.
Rasmussen also noted that Danish firms have expressed interest in investing in Syria, especially following the lifting of US sanctions.
On Friday, Syrian Information Minister Hamza al-Mustafa, said “Israel is miscalculating when it thinks it can impose facts on the ground. We are not ashamed to say that we are not in a position of strength, especially after liberation, and we want to focus on rebuilding the country.”
He added: “We will not be a launching pad for threatening neighboring countries, but we will spare no effort to confront and deter Israeli aggression.”
