The Syrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs strongly condemned the Israeli military incursion in the Beit Jinn area in the Damascus countryside, carried out by a force composed of military vehicles and soldiers, which took control of hills on the slopes of Mount Hermon. The ministry described the incursion as a “flagrant violation of the sovereignty and unity of Syrian lands.” The Syrian Foreign Ministry stated that this dangerous escalation poses a direct threat to regional peace and security and reflects the aggressive approach of the occupation in blatant defiance of international law and legitimacy resolutions, especially those related to respecting state sovereignty and non-interference in internal affairs.

Damascus renewed its call to the United Nations and the Security Council to bear their legal and moral responsibilities, take urgent and effective measures to deter the occupation authorities from their aggressive practices, and ensure their accountability according to international law to safeguard the sovereignty and unity of Syrian lands. The ministry stressed that continuing these violations undermines stability efforts, exacerbates regional tensions, and threatens regional peace and security. Syrian Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad accused Israel of violating the 1974 Disengagement Agreement and Security Council resolutions by establishing intelligence centers and military points in forbidden areas, according to the Syrian news agency SANA.

During his participation in the emergency ministerial meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Mekdad called on the organization to support Syria’s position internationally and reject any attempt to legitimize the occupation or impose a reality by force at the expense of Syrian sovereignty. He also demanded that the United Nations and the UNDOF mission fully assume their responsibilities in documenting and stopping Israeli incursions and violations. Mekdad said these violations aim to tear apart the Syrian national fabric, revive sectarian strife, and turn the occupied Syrian Golan into a base for swallowing more land. He added: “Syria will remain resistant to division.” High-level Syrian sources told Independent Arabia that Syria and Israel will sign a security agreement under U.S. auspices on September 25.

The sources explained that this agreement will be preceded by a speech from Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in New York on September 24 during his participation in the UN General Assembly meetings. According to the sources, Tel Aviv and Damascus will not sign a comprehensive peace agreement in the near future; the agreement will be limited to security aspects to halt tensions between the two countries. Two informed Syrian sources said that Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad met with Israeli Minister of Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer in Paris to discuss security arrangements in southern Syria. Syrian and Israeli officials are conducting talks mediated by the United States to ease the conflict in southern Syria. A previous round of these talks took place in Paris in late July but ended without a final agreement.