Syria accuses Israel of further military incursion near Damascus

Operation was carried out by force of 11 military vehicles and about 60 soldiers, Foreign Ministry says

Syrian President Ahmad Al Shara is expected to talk about Israeli breaches when he addresses the UN General Assembly next month. Photo: Presidency of the Syrian Arab Republic

Syria on Monday accused Israeli forces of further a "military incursion" into an area near Damascus, describing it as a "blatant violation" of the Arab country's sovereignty.

In a statement, the Syrian Foreign Ministry said the incursion was carried out by a force consisting of 11 military vehicles and about 60 soldiers. It added that Israeli troops advanced into the area between Beit Jinn and Beit Jinn Farm, in the western Damascus countryside. The forces seized control of Tal Bat Al Warda, in the foothills of Mount Hermon, the ministry added.

State news agency Sana reported earlier that Israeli troops opened fire on civilians, though no casualties were reported.

They also entered several towns and villages in Quneitra countryside, including Jubata Al Khashab, Tranja, Al Rafid, Manshiyat Suwaysa, Bariqa, Beer Ajam, Kodna, Ain Ziwan and Ain Al Abed, and raided and searchedhomes before withdrawing, the agency said.

"This dangerous escalation constitutes a direct threat to regional peace and security, and once again embodies the aggressive approach pursued by the occupying authorities," the ministry said.

It added that the continuation of such breaches undermines efforts to establish stability in Syria and exacerbates tensions in the region. The ministry called on the UN and the UN Security Council to "assume their legal and moral responsibilities and take urgent and effective measures to deter the occupation authorities from their aggressive practices".

The two countries have recently engaged in talks on de-escalating the violence in southern Syria.

Syria's Foreign Minister Asaad Al Shibani last week met an Israeli delegation in Paris to discuss enhancing security in the region. The discussions focused on de-escalation and non-interference, as well as monitoring the ceasefire in Sweida governorate, among other issues.

Israel and Syria have never established diplomatic relations, although both signed a disengagement agreement in 1974 that created a UN-monitored buffer zone separating them. Sana reported that the Paris discussions touched on reactivating the agreement.

Cross-border Israeli strikes on Syria increased after the toppling of former president Bashar Al Assad and further intensified during the Sweida conflict, with targets including the Ministry of Defence in Damascus.

Syrian President Ahmad Al Shara will participate in the 80th session of the UN General Assembly next month and is expected to give a speech and talk about the Israeli breaches. This will be the first speech by a Syrian president since 1967.

The US in December scrapped a $10 million reward for the arrest of the Syrian leader after meetings between senior diplomats and representatives from the new government.

Last week, Mr Al Shara appointed Ibrahim Olabi, a British-educated human rights lawyer, as the country’s new ambassador to the UN, replacing Kusay Aldahak, a career diplomat who was appointed by Mr Al Assad, as UN ambassador.