July 16, 2025 — New York — United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has strongly condemned recent Israeli airstrikes on Syrian territory and urged an immediate end to violations of Syria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
In a statement delivered by his spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric during a UN briefing, Guterres expressed deep concern over the escalation caused by the air raids targeting As-Suwayda and the capital, Damascus, as well as reports of Israeli troop repositioning on the occupied Golan Heights.
“The Secretary-General condemns the escalating airstrikes by Israel on As-Suwayda and Damascus, and reports of the Israel Defense Forces’ redeployment in the Golan. He calls for an immediate halt to all violations of Syria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity,” Dujarric said.
The UN chief’s remarks come amid a sharp rise in cross-border tensions. While Israel has justified its actions as preemptive measures against Iranian-linked militias allegedly operating in Syria, Damascus has decried the attacks as acts of aggression and violations of international law.
These latest developments follow months of sporadic strikes attributed to Israel targeting infrastructure and personnel tied to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and Hezbollah in southern and central Syria. Observers fear that such escalations risk drawing Syria deeper into the broader Israel-Iran regional confrontation.
The UN has consistently maintained that all member states must respect the sovereignty of other nations under the UN Charter. Analysts have also noted that the continued militarization of the Golan Heights and aerial incursions further destabilize the already volatile situation in the region.
While Israeli officials have not commented directly on the Secretary-General’s statement, regional diplomatic sources suggest growing international pressure on all actors to exercise restraint.
The UN Security Council has not scheduled an emergency session on the matter, but diplomatic consultations are reportedly ongoing behind closed doors.
Syria has formally lodged a complaint with the UN, demanding accountability and urging an end to what it calls “systematic aggression” by Israel.
