France Urges Israel to Withdraw from Syria’s Golan Heights
France Urges Israel to Withdraw from Syrian Golan Heights
PARIS - France has called on Israel to withdraw its forces from the Syrian Golan Heights, emphasizing the need to respect Syrian sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The French Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement on Friday, reminding all parties that any military deployment in the demilitarized zone between Israel and Syria constitutes a violation of the 1974 Disengagement Agreement.
“As stated by the United Nations, every military deployment in the disengagement zone between Israel and Syria is a violation of the 1974 Disengagement Agreement, which must be respected by its signatories, Israel and Syria,” the statement read.
“France calls on Israel to withdraw from this zone and to respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Syria,” it added.
The ministry reaffirmed France’s “full support” for the United Nations disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) deployed in the Golan Heights.
Israel’s military expansion into the Syrian Golan Heights comes after the collapse of Bashar al-Assad’s regime. Assad fled to Russia, seeking asylum after anti-regime forces captured the capital, Damascus, on Sunday, ending the Baath Party’s rule that began in 1963.
Following the fall of the Assad regime, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared the UN-monitored disengagement agreement null and void. Israeli forces later seized control of Mount Hermon on the Syrian border and several other strategic locations.Israel has also launched dozens of airstrikes targeting military bases, air defence systems, intelligence headquarters, and depots containing long-range and short-range missiles, as well as stockpiles of unconventional weapons across syria.
Israel claims its military actions within Syrian territory are defensive measures ”to prevent any threat.”
France Calls on Israel to Withdraw from Syrian Golan Heights
Following the collapse of the Assad regime and Israel’s subsequent military expansion into the Syrian Golan Heights, Paris has issued a strong statement calling for Israel’s withdrawal.
the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasized the imperative of respecting Syrian sovereignty and territorial integrity, reminding all parties of the 1974 Disengagement Agreement, which designates the area as a demilitarized zone.
“France calls on Israel to withdraw from this zone and to respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Syria,” read the statement, which also reaffirmed France’s full support for the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF).
This appeal comes after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared the UN-monitored agreement null and void in the wake of the Assad regime’s downfall. Since then,Israeli forces have seized control of strategic locations like Mount Hermon and launched numerous airstrikes targeting various Syrian military assets,citing self-defense against potential threats.