The United Nations Highlights Israeli PM's Visit To The Buffer Zone In South Syria

JAKARTA - The United Nations on Wednesday voiced concerns over Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's visit to the demilitarized zone in southern Syria this week.

PM Netanyahu visited Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) troops stationed in the buffer zone separating the two countries on Wednesday.

"I think this public visit is very concerning, at least," UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric told a news conference.

"We call on Israel to honor the 1974 Disengagement Agreement," he continued.

Dujarric noted UN resolution 2799, which was recently passed on the Security Council, and stressed the resolution "submitting full sovereignty, unity, independence, and territorial integrity of Syria."

"This is also an issue raised in a recent meeting between (the Deputy UN Special Envoy for Syria) Najat Rochdi and the Syrian Foreign Minister," he added.

In a statement, Rochdi called PM Netanyahu's visit "further serious violations of Syrian sovereignty."

"Considering the affirmation of the Security Council in resolution 2799 (2025) regarding its full respect for the sovereignty, unity, independence, and integrity of the Syrian territory, Deputy Special Envoy Rochdi once again called for Israel's violations to be stopped and for compliance with the 1974 Disengagement Agreement to be obeyed, and appealed to the Security Council to take responsibility in this regard," the statement said.

Meanwhile, Syrian authorities also criticized Prime Minister Netanyahu's "unauthorized visit" accompanied by a number of Israeli officials, including Israeli Defense Minister Katz, Foreign Minister Gideon Saar and IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir.

Syria "condemns as hard as it can on the illegal visit, considering it a serious violation of Syria's territory sovereignty and integrity," the Foreign Ministry said in a statement, calling it "a new attempt to impose a fait accompli that goes against the relevant Security Council resolution," quoted by Arab News.

The ministry said the visit was "including in its occupation policy aimed at consolidating its aggression and continuing its abuses against Syrian territory."

"We call on the international community to take responsibility, hinder occupation practices, and force them to fully withdraw from southern Syria and return to 1974's Disengagement Agreement," the statement added.

After the fall of Bashar Assad's regime by the end of 2024, Israel expanded its occupation in the Syrian Golan Heights by seizing the demilitarized buffer zone, a move that violated the 1974 Disengagement Agreement with Syria.

Israeli attacks in southern Syria have recently intensified. Locals have complained about the entry of Israeli troops into their farmland, as well as the destruction of hundreds of hectares of forest, the arrest of residents and the establishment of military checkpoints.