A roundup of key worldwide reactions after Israeli air strikes close to the defence ministry and presidential palace in Syria’s capital.
Israel has launched a number of air strikes within the coronary heart of the Syrian capital, Damascus, as clashes continued within the southwestern metropolis of Suwayda after a truce between authorities forces and Druze armed teams collapsed.
Defence Minister Israel Katz stated Israeli forces struck close to the doorway to the Syrian Ministry of Defence on Wednesday, hours after he had demanded Syrian authorities forces withdraw from Suwayda.
One other strike hit close to the presidential palace, on the outskirts of the town.
A minimum of one particular person was killed and 18 others have been wounded within the assaults, Syrian state media reported, citing the Ministry of Well being.
The assaults on Syria’s capital come amid persevering with unrest within the metropolis of Suwayda, the place native Sunni Bedouin tribes have been engaged in fierce clashes in current days with fighters from Syria’s Druze minority, whom Israel views as a possible ally in Syria and claims to be intervening to guard.
Damascus deployed its forces to the town on Tuesday and declared a ceasefire, however the preventing shortly resumed.
Right here is how the world is reacting to Israel’s assaults on Damascus:
United States
Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated the US was “very involved” concerning the escalation in violence.
“We’re going to be engaged on that challenge … I simply received off the cellphone with the related events. We’re very involved about it, and hopefully, we’ll have some updates later right this moment. However we’re very involved about it,” Rubio stated
Turkiye
Turkiye’s Ministry of Overseas Affairs condemned the assaults and stated they have been an try to sabotage Syria’s efforts to realize peace, stability and safety.
“The Syrian individuals have a historic alternative to dwell in peace and combine with the world,” the ministry stated.
“All stakeholders who assist this chance ought to contribute to the Syrian authorities’s efforts to revive peace.”
Omer Celik, spokesperson for President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s governing AK Celebration, additionally condemned the assaults.
“Israel’s assaults pose a safety menace to the whole area and the world,” Celik wrote on X.
GCC
The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) – comprising Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates – condemned the assaults within the “strongest phrases”.
In an announcement, GCC Secretary-Normal Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi stated the Israeli assaults have been a “flagrant violation” of Syria’s sovereignty, “a breach of worldwide legal guidelines and norms, and a severe menace to regional safety and stability”.
Albudaiwi reiterated the GCC’s assist for Syria’s territorial integrity, including that the continuation of Israeli assaults constituted an “irresponsible escalation” and disregarded worldwide efforts to realize stability in Syria and the area.
Norway
The Norwegian overseas minister stated that Israel’s current strikes might undermine efforts in the direction of a peaceable transition of energy in Syria.
“Deeply involved about current Israeli airstrikes and rising home tensions. The escalation dangers undermining efforts in the direction of a peaceable, Syrian-owned transition,” Espen Barth Eide wrote on X.
He stated he was “alarmed” by the “escalating violence” in Syria and urged all actors to train “most restraint”.