DAMASCUS: The Syrian Arab Republic condemned a trip Wednesday by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other officials to Syria’s south, where they visited troops deployed in a buffer zone intended to separate the two countries’ forces.
Syria “condemns in the strongest terms the illegal visit... considering it a serious violation of Syria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity,” the foreign ministry said in a statement, calling it “a new attempt to impose a fait accompli that contradicts relevant Security Council resolutions.”
Netanyahu visited Syria’s southern region along with ministers of defense and foreign affairs.
The ministry said the visit “falls within the occupation’s policies aimed at consolidating its aggression and continuing its violations of Syrian territory.”
“We call on the international community to assume its responsibilities, deter the occupation’s practices and compel it to fully withdraw from southern Syria and return to the 1974 Disengagement Agreement,” the statement added.

The United Nations expressed concern over Netanyahu’s visit to Syria, describing it as “worrying.”

UN Secretary-General spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said the visit, which took place publicly and openly, is “concerning at the very least,” and called on Israel to respect the 1974 Disengagement Agreement.