Gideon Saar expresses concern over violations of 1974 disengagement agreement between Israel, Syria

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar on Sunday highlighted rising tensions along the Israel-Syria border, saying armed forces had entered the buffer zone on the Syrian side and launched attacks against the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF).

he/she stressed Israel’s concern over violations of the 1974 Disengagement Agreement, particularly in view of the potential threats to its security and the safety of its citizens in the Golan Heights area.

“Over the past 24 hours, armed forces have entered the buffer zone on the Syrian side of the border with Israel,” Saar wrote in a post on Twitter. In addition to other actions, attacks were conducted against UNDOF forces in the area.

“Israel is concerned about the violations of the 1974 disengagement agreement between Israel and Syria, which threaten its security, its communities and the safety of its citizens, particularly in the Golan Heights area. The State of Israel does not intervene in the internal conflict in Syria,” the post added.

Meanwhile, Syria’s main rebel group said its focus is now on Damascus, after claiming control of four cities – Daraa, Quneitra, Suwayda and Homs, CNN reports.

“We were able to liberate four Syrian cities, Daraa, Quneitra, Suwayda and Homs, within 24 hours, and our operation to liberate the entire Damascus countryside continues with our sights set on the capital, Damascus,” spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Hassan said. But there are.” Abdul Ghani said on Sunday.

Meanwhile, as Israeli forces strengthened defenses along the Syrian border, Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Herzi Halevi said Saturday night that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) is ready for any situation.

“We are monitoring to see that local elements are not moving in our direction. “We are monitoring very closely what is happening,” Halevi said.

he/she also stressed that Israel has no intention of intervening in the Syrian civil war, but is also keeping an eye on Iranian personnel evacuating the country.

“The main emphasis is also to look at Iranian exit, Iranian interest, which is the first requirement from our point of view, and secondly to look at the local elements here that are occupying the area. “There’s an offensive response and there’s a very, very strong defensive response behind it,” he/she said.

A day earlier, the military had confirmed that Israeli forces were helping protect UN peacekeepers from rebel attacks in the Syrian part of the Golan Heights.

“A short time ago, a UN post in the Khadr region of Syria was attacked by armed men,” the IDF said. “The IDF is currently assisting UN forces in repelling the attack.”

The United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) is a peacekeeping mission tasked with maintaining the ceasefire between Israel and Syria following the 1973 Yom Kippur War. The 1,200 monitors come from 13 countries.