Johannesburg: South Africa strongly condemns Israel's latest attacks on the Syrian capital, Damascus, targeting the Syrian Ministry of Defence and conducting air strikes near the Presidential Palace on July 16, 2025. The nation views these actions as a flagrant violation of Syria's territorial integrity and international law.
According to African Press Organization, Israel's announcement on July 17, 2025, regarding its continued occupation of Syrian territory south of Damascus poses a serious threat to Syria's sovereignty. The redeployment of Israeli forces in the Golan Heights, the occupation of Quneitra near the Golan Heights, and airstrikes on Suwayda, Daraa, and central Damascus are seen as a military escalation that jeopardizes security and stability in both the country and the wider region.
The United Nations Secretary General, António Guterres, has urged Israel to halt any violations of Syria's sovereignty and comply with the 1974 Disengagement of Forces Agreement. South Africa aligns itself with the UN Secretary-General's stance, which includes condemning Israel's escalatory airstrikes and calling for an immediate de-escalation of violence, as well as measures to facilitate humanitarian access.