Newsletters
Türkiye on Friday called on Israel to immediately halt its strikes on the town of Beit Jinn in rural Damascus, warning that the attacks violate Syria’s sovereignty and pose a threat to civilians and regional stability.
“As the Dec. 8 anniversary of the Syrian people’s liberation approaches, and amid international calls for Syria’s stability, Israel has once again shown it is pursuing a destructive agenda with its attacks on the town of Beit Jinn in rural Damascus,” Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesman Oncu Keceli said on social media platform X.
Keceli said Israel, despite facing no threat from Syria, continues to violate the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity with its military operations.
“These actions threaten civilians and regional stability,” he added.
Keceli urged Israel to immediately stop its attacks, which he said aim to prevent the Syrian government and people from achieving security, prosperity, and social peace. He also called on all responsible members of the international community to act on the issue.
Arab countries also condemned the Israeli strike on Beit Jinn, which killed and injured several civilians. In a statement, Qatar’s Foreign Ministry said the escalation “deepens tensions and undermines efforts to achieve security and stability in the region.”
Jordan described the attack as a “dangerous and provocative escalation” that would only fuel regional tensions, while Kuwait’s Foreign Ministry condemned the strike as part of “Israel’s destabilizing approach that threatens the security and stability of the region and undermines regional and international efforts aimed at de-escalation.”
The Arab League also denounced the attack as a “flagrant violation of international law” and a breach of the 1974 disengagement agreement between Syria and Israel.
At least 13 people, including women and children, were killed and 24 others wounded in the Israeli strikes on Beit Jinn and surrounding roads on Friday, according to reports from the region. A photo from the aftermath shows destruction and debris across the village of Beit Jinn, located in the Qatana area of southern Syria's Damascus countryside.
The Israeli army said six of its soldiers were injured in the incident, including three in critical condition. It also claimed to have detained members of “the Jaama Islamiya,” alleging they operated in the Beit Jinn area and were planning attacks against Israeli civilians.
According to data compiled by Turkish news agency Anadolu, the Israeli military carried out 48 raids in southern Syria in November alone. Since December 2024, Israel has reportedly conducted more than 1,000 airstrikes across Syria and over 400 cross-border raids into southern provinces.
Following the fall of the Bashar al-Assad regime in late 2024, Israel expanded its occupation of the Syrian Golan Heights by seizing control of the demilitarized buffer zone, a move that violated the 1974 disengagement agreement with Syria.
1 min read
1 min read
