How is Israel’s escalation in southern Syria being addressed?

Israeli military activity in Syrian territory took an escalatory turn during September, with more than 97 incursions and military movements, 46 temporary checkpoints, nine arrests, and 19 artillery shelling incidents reported. Most of these activities were concentrated in Quneitra and the Yarmouk Basin in the Daraa countryside, with some extending into the Damascus countryside.

One of the most prominent developments in September was Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit to Syrian territory on September 9, when he reached the summit of Mount Hermon, accompanied by Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz and Deputy Chief of Staff Tamir Yadai.

During the military visit, Netanyahu said that Israel controls the area stretching from Mount Hermon to the Yarmouk River. The move prompted Syrian condemnation and diplomatic action at the United Nations.

How did the Syrian Transitional Government respond?

On September 9, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates condemned Benjamin Netanyahu’s entry into Mount Hermon, describing the visit as a violation of Syria’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and international law. It held Israel responsible for the consequences of its incursions, called for an end to them, and urged a return to the 1974 Disengagement Agreement.

On the same day, Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani discussed developments in southern Syria with his Jordanian counterpart, Ayman Safadi, as well as the implementation of the tripartite roadmap between Syria, Jordan and the United States concerning Suwayda.

From Damascus to the UN Security Council

On September 11, a demonstration was held outside the United Nations Security Council in New York, attended by Syria’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ibrahim Olabi, to condemn Netanyahu’s entry into Syrian territory and reaffirm Syria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

On September 12, Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani told the Council that Damascus rejected any violation of its sovereignty and remained committed to political and diplomatic solutions in accordance with international law. He called for an end to the attacks and a return to the 1974 Disengagement Agreement.

Syria’s position at the September 17 session

At the UN Security Council session on September 17, Syria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ibrahim Olabi, said Israel was continuing its incursions, arrests and shelling in Syria.

He reaffirmed Damascus’s commitment to the diplomatic track and to the security agreement under U.S. sponsorship, while rejecting the occupation and any relinquishment of Syrian rights.

Meanwhile, Claudio Cordone, Deputy UN Special Envoy for Syria, said that Israel’s presence and violations in southern Syria constituted a breach of Syria’s sovereignty and the 1974 Disengagement Agreement, calling for an end to them.

Al-Sharaa: peace is impossible while the occupation continues

On September 23, President Ahmed al-Sharaa said that the continuation of Israeli occupation, incursions, arrests and shelling was preventing the achievement of peace, stressing that restoring Syria’s rights was a prerequisite for lasting peace.

He said Damascus had chosen the diplomatic and dialogue track with the support of friendly countries, including the United States, and had held several rounds of discussions with Israel. He reaffirmed that Damascus would continue along this path in the hope of reaching a result.

Diplomacy instead of confrontation

On September 25, the official Syrian news agency SANA published a report titled “How Is Syria Responding to Israeli Attacks?” It stated that Damascus was working through regional and UN-mediated efforts to halt incursions, shelling and arrests, while maintaining its commitment to Syrian sovereignty and the 1974 Disengagement Agreement.

What has the Government not issued?

A review of official statements and declarations published throughout September shows no separate statement from the Syrian Ministry of Defense or the Syrian National Security Council specifically addressing the Israeli incursions during the month.

Instead, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates and Syria’s UN mission took the lead in articulating the political position, while the state-run SANA news agency continued to report developments on the ground.

Between incursions and negotiations

The official positions issued during September reveal two tracks being pursued by Damascus.

The first is rejecting Israeli incursions and presence inside Syrian territory while reaffirming Syria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The second is keeping the door open to negotiations and mediation under U.S. sponsorship.

According to Syrian military experts and politicians, the question is no longer whether the transitional government has taken a position on Israeli attacks, but rather how capable the diplomatic track chosen by Damascus will be of stopping incursions, shelling and arrests, and of translating international support for Syria’s sovereignty into practical steps on the ground.

ANHA