Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim condemned recent Israeli airstrikes on Damascus, Syria (file picture)
By PHUBIEYAS AHMAD
KUALA LUMPUR, July 17 – Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has strongly condemned the recent Israeli airstrikes on Damascus, Syria, describing them as a grave breach of international law and an affront to Syria’s sovereignty.
In a posting on his official Facebook page, Anwar called for an immediate halt to such acts and urged all parties to recommit to humanitarian principles and the rule of law.
“I condemn the recent Israeli airstrikes on Damascus, which once again violated Syria’s sovereignty and resulted in the loss of innocent lives,” Anwar said. He added that the attacks were “a clear violation of international law and the 1974 Disengagement Agreement between Israel and Syria.”
Background to the Incident
The airstrikes, which took place on Tuesday night, July 16, 2025, targeted several sensitive sites in the Syrian capital, including the Syrian Defence Ministry and areas near the Presidential Palace. According to Syrian state media, at least one person was killed and 18 others wounded, though monitoring groups suggest the death toll may be higher.
The strikes came amid escalating tensions in southern Syria’s Sweida province, where fighting has intensified between government forces and Druze militias. Israel has justified its actions as a response to Syrian government operations that allegedly endanger the Druze population — an ethnic and religious minority with communities in both Syria and Israel.
Israeli military sources said the attacks were aimed at preventing a militant foothold near its northern borders and warned of further action if Syrian forces did not retreat from contested areas.
The 1974 Disengagement Agreement
Anwar’s reference to the 1974 Disengagement Agreement highlights the legal basis for his condemnation. Signed on May 31, 1974, following the Yom Kippur War, the accord established a ceasefire line and created the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) to monitor a demilitarized buffer zone in the Golan Heights.
While not a peace treaty, the agreement stipulates that both Israel and Syria “scrupulously observe the ceasefire on land, sea and air” and refrain from any military activity against each other. The airstrikes on central Damascus, far beyond the disengagement zone, have raised concerns over their legality and risk of regional escalation.
Malaysia’s Position
Prime Minister Anwar reiterated Malaysia’s long-standing policy of upholding international law and defending the sovereignty of all nations, especially those affected by foreign intervention.
“Syria has endured immense hardship over the past decade. Its people deserve peace — not further violence or external interference,” he said.
Malaysia has consistently spoken out against Israeli military actions in occupied territories and the wider region, advocating for peaceful conflict resolution, the protection of civilians, and adherence to multilateral legal frameworks.
Anwar’s remarks align with growing international criticism of unilateral military actions in the Middle East, particularly those that disregard established ceasefire agreements and endanger civilian lives.
- TNS NEWS