UN Secretary-General António Guterres condemned the Israeli attacks on the Syrian capital, Damascus, and the southern governorates of Sweida and Daraa.
Stephane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General, shared a statement issued by Guterres during the daily press briefing on Wednesday and answered questions from journalists.
Dujarric said: “The Secretary-General (Guterres) condemns the increased Israeli airstrikes on Sweida, Daraa, and the center of the Syrian capital, Damascus.”
He added: “The Secretary-General unequivocally condemns all acts of violence against civilians, including arbitrary killings and actions that fuel sectarian tensions and deny the Syrian people the opportunity for peace and reconciliation.”
Dujarric conveyed Guterres’s condolences to all Syrians and his call for an immediate end to violence in the country.
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Earlier on Wednesday, the Israeli military launched a new offensive on Syria, including airstrikes on more than 160 targets in four southern governorates: Sweida and neighboring Daraa, Damascus, and Rural Damascus.
The Syrian Ministry of Health announced that three people were killed and 28 others injured in airstrikes on central Damascus.
On Monday, Syrian army forces entered Sweida after clashes erupted between Bedouin and Druze groups in the province, leaving dozens dead.
Israel uses these attacks in Syria to justify its repeated violations of the country’s sovereignty, including its efforts to transform southern Syria into a “demilitarized” zone.
However, most Druze leaders in Syria had previously affirmed in a joint statement their condemnation of any foreign interference, their commitment to a unified Syria, and their rejection of partition or secession.
