Iran demands UN action over Israeli attacks in Syria

Iran's Foreign Ministry on Thursday condemned recent Israeli air and ground attacks on southern Syria and the Damascus suburbs, urging a response from the international community and Islamic nations.

On Thursday, spokesperson Esmail Baghaei denounced the strikes as a clear violation of the UN Charter and international law, citing repeated breaches of the 1974 agreement.

He also called on the UN Security Council to take immediate action to halt what he described as Israel's aggression.

"Israel’s occupation of parts of Syria’s territory and repeated violation of the Arab country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity are tantamount to an act of aggression," he said.

The 1974 Agreement on Disengagement between Israel and Syria, establishing a UN-monitored ceasefire and buffer zone, explicitly stated it was not a peace treaty but a step towards one.

However, following the instability caused by the Syrian civil war and the fall of Bashar Assad’s government, Israel declared the agreement void, leading to increased military activity, including an invasion of the buffer zone and aerial campaigns targeting Syrian military capabilities in December 2024.

On Wednesday, Israeli armed forces launched airstrikes at military sites in southern Syria, following Prime Minister Netanyahu's demand for the "complete demilitarization" of the region.

Residents reported low-flying planes over Damascus before the strikes, which a local monitoring group said targeted sites in Daraa province, including an airport previously hit by Israel. Syrian media also reported a strike near al-Kiswah.

Israel has carried out hundreds of strikes in Syria since 2011, aiming to disrupt Iran's use of the country as a conduit for smuggling supplies to its regional proxies, including Hezbollah.