
Syria, UN condemn Israeli attacks on army HQ in ‘strongest terms'
'The attack is part of the Israeli aggression [and] represents a flagrant violation of the United Nations Charter and international humanitarian law,' a ministry statement said.
At least three were killed and 34 wounded in the air strikes.
Syria said it holds Israel responsible for the escalation and reserves its 'right to defend our land and people through international law'.
It called on the international community and the UN Security Council to take 'urgent action' against repeated Israeli aggression.
Meanwhile, UN chief Antonio Guterres condemned on Wednesday the Israeli air strikes. "The Secretary-General further condemns Israel's escalatory airstrikes on Suweida, Daraa and in the center of Damascus, as well as reports of the IDF's redeployment of forces in the Golan," Guterres's spokesman Stephane Dujarric said in a statement.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles

The National
an hour ago
- The National
Five waiting for aid among 22 Palestinians killed in Gaza
At least 22 Palestinians killed in Israeli attacks in Gaza on Monday Israeli evacuation order in central Gaza 'devastating' to aid efforts, says UN Israeli army says it struck Houthi targets in Yemen's Hodeidah port Hamas considering quitting ceasefire talks unless 'deal reached by end of week' At least 58,895 Palestinians killed and 140,980 wounded since Gaza war began


Middle East Eye
2 hours ago
- Middle East Eye
How Israel's strikes on Syria are backfiring
Recent clashes in Sweida and Israel's subsequent military intervention have once again brought Syria to the forefront of regional politics. Since the fall of former President Bashar Al-Assad's regime last December, one of the most pressing questions has been whether a new Syrian administration would be able to consolidate its base amid deep ideological and political divisions across the country. To understand Syria's current political transition, it is essential to examine how the Sweida-centred conflict and Israel's involvement will affect the cohesion of the new administration's support base. The recent escalation in southern Syria began with clashes between Druze and Bedouin militias, prompting intervention by the Syrian army. Israel then launched air strikes in Damascus targeting critical military installations, including the army's headquarters, with bombing also reported near the presidential complex. After the withdrawal of Syrian forces from Sweida, clashes continued between Druze and Bedouin groups, deepening divisions and raising serious concerns about civilian safety in the region. New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters The Syrian army and its key ally, Turkey, have gained extensive combat experience through years of conflict. Together, they played a crucial role in overthrowing the Assad regime and reducing the influence of Iran and Russia in the region. Israel, which for nearly two years has been committing genocide in Gaza, is closely monitoring these developments and appears intent on using Druze leaders to further destabilise Syria. Its primary objective is to prevent the consolidation of the new Syrian administration, which it views as a threat, particularly given the regime's close cooperation with Turkey. Shifting tactics In response to Israel's air strikes on Damascus, and by demonstrating loyalty to the state, tribal groups have effectively become a new frontline for the administration of the interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa. The tribes have employed innovative strategies, such as using urban cover and burning tyres to obscure aerial surveillance, enabling them to advance to Sweida's city centre by Friday. Israel has not yet been able to carry out an effective intervention, as air strikes are not a practical method of targeting tribal groups situated in mountainous terrain. From Damascus to Gaza, Israel's doctrine of domination has one fatal flaw Read More » Syria's new administration has been plagued by questions around how to achieve political consolidation by bridging the internal diversity of its supporters. This challenge extends beyond the task of integrating groups such as the Kurds -the Democratic Union Party (PYD) and Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF)- and the Druze. The new Syrian administration includes a broad spectrum of ideological and political perspectives that must be effectively engaged, both militarily and politically. Israel's targeting of Damascus has concerned all supporters of the new Syrian administration, while facilitating greater cooperation at the local level, as demonstrated by the recent tribal operations. This dynamic is helping to ease the internal integration of the regime's supporters. Druze groups have also sought mediation through Damascus, with some leaders advocating for disarmament and integration within the new Syrian administration. In light of recent developments, these leaders appear to be gaining influence over Israel-aligned figures such as Hikmat al-Hajri. If the Druze successfully integrate, this would have significant implications for the disarmament process of Kurdish forces. Israel's targeting of Damascus has thus led many supporters of the new Syrian administration to prioritise responding to external threats. The integration of Druze groups into the central administration in Damascus would contribute to the country's national unity, while reshaping the broader power dynamics across Syria. The views expressed in this article belong to the author and do not necessarily reflect the editorial policy of Middle East Eye.


Dubai Eye
2 hours ago
- Dubai Eye
Iran to hold nuclear talks with European powers on Friday
Iran, Britain, France and Germany will hold nuclear talks in Istanbul on Friday, an Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson said early on Monday. The talks scheduled for Friday come after foreign ministers of the three nations as well as the European Union's foreign policy chief, held their first call on Thursday with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi since Israel and the US attacked Iranian nuclear facilities a month ago. The three European countries, along with China and Russia, are the remaining parties to a 2015 nuclear deal reached with Iran - from which the US withdrew in 2018 - that lifted sanctions on the Middle Eastern country in return for restrictions on its nuclear programme. They have said they would restore UN sanctions on Tehran via the "snapback mechanism" by the end of August if nuclear talks that were ongoing between Iran and the US before the Israel-Iran air war do not resume or fail to produce concrete results. "If EU/E3 want to have a role, they should act responsibly, and put aside the worn-out policies of threat and pressure, including the 'snap-back' for which they lack absolutely [any] moral and legal ground," Araqchi said earlier in the week. The snapback mechanism can be used to restore UN sanctions before the UN Security Council resolution enshrining the deal expires on October 18. Prior to the Israel-Iran war, Tehran and Washington held five rounds of nuclear talks mediated by Oman but faced major stumbling blocks such as uranium enrichment in Iran, which Western powers want to bring down to zero to minimise any risk of weaponisation.