• Airstrike, which occurred early Friday, came after Israeli authorities reportedly warned the Syrian government against attacks on Druze

Arab News

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia on Friday strongly condemned an Israeli airstrike that targeted the vicinity of the Presidential Palace in Damascus, calling it a blatant violation of the Syrian Arab Republic’s sovereignty and a serious threat to regional stability, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed the Kingdom’s condemnation “in the strongest terms” of the attack, and reiterated its categorical rejection of Israeli actions that undermine the sovereignty, security, and stability of Syria.

The airstrike, which occurred early Friday, came after Israeli authorities reportedly warned the Syrian government against advancing toward villages inhabited by members of the Druze minority in southern Syria.

The warning followed days of violent clashes between pro-government forces and Druze fighters near the capital, which left dozens of people dead or injured.

Syria’s presidency described the Israeli attack as a “dangerous escalation against state institutions and the sovereignty of the state,” and urged the international community to take a stand against such violations. It warned that the strike not only threatens Syria’s national security but also the unity of its people.

The Saudi foreign ministry echoed these concerns, calling on the international community to intervene and halt Israel’s “blatant violations of international law in Syria and the region.”

The Kingdom further warned that the continuation of such policies and what it described as “extremist Israeli practices” could exacerbate violence, extremism, and instability across the region.