Position paper Israeli Attacks on Syria: A Violation of International Law and Targeting Sovereignty and Stability

Introduction:

Syria has recently witnessed a significant military escalation by the Israeli occupation, coinciding with a political and military vacuum caused by the collapse of the former Syrian regime and the fleeing of its president, Bashar al-Assad.
The Israeli attacks have extensively targeted Syrian military installations and strategic infrastructure, including weapon warehouses reportedly containing chemical materials, air defense systems, ammunition depots, and naval assets. It was announced that 70 to 80 percent of the Syrian army’s military capabilities have been destroyed. These attacks constitute a blatant violation of Syrian sovereignty and international law, including UN Security Council Resolutions 242 of 1967 and 497 of 1981, as well as the 1974 Disengagement Agreement between Israel and Syria. Under the agreement, Syria retained civil administration within the demilitarized zone, with the Syrian army remaining outside the area. Announcing the unilateral breach of the agreement also violates Article 2 of the UN Charter, which obligates all states to adhere to international agreements.
Thus, Israeli attacks represent an escalation that increases the likelihood of expanding the violence Syria endures, potentially spreading to neighboring countries. These attacks continue without justification or legal basis.
The Syrian Center for Media and Freedom of Expression (SCM) documented 21 casualties resulting from Israeli bombardment between September 1 and December 10, 2024.

Facts About the Israeli Attacks:

Incursions into Villages and Control Over Syrian Territory in Mount Hermon (Jabal al-Sheikh):
Israeli forces entered the villages of Al-Hamidiyah, Rasem Al-Shouli, and Al-Qahtaniyeh, in clear breach of the 1974 demilitarized zone agreement. The forces advanced toward the city of Quneitra and into the southwestern countryside of the Syrian capital, Damascus, reaching 25 kilometers away. Israeli forces also infiltrated the Yarmouk Basin (Hawd al-Yarmouk) area in Daraa Province and deployed troops in a demilitarized zone on the Golan Heights, taking control of the Syrian side of Mount Hermon after the withdrawal of Syrian army forces.

Israel’s Largest Aerial Bombardment Operations:
Israel carried out over 400 airstrikes on military and intelligence sites, including airports, barracks, and weapon depots. The Israeli army announced the destruction of Syrian military capabilities, including aircraft and warships. The air raids, which took place on December 9-10, 2024, targeted most Syrian provinces, including the heart of Damascus and its countryside. Israeli strikes hit the Scientific Research Center in Barzeh, Damascus countryside, and military and security centers, such as the security complex in KafrSousa, effectively destroying evidence and documents in intelligence centers that could uncover the fate of detainees and missing persons or hold Syrian officials accountable.

Extensive Naval Attacks on Syrian Ships:
The Israeli navy targeted Syrian warships in Al-Bayda and Latakia, destroying dozens of sea-to-sea missiles and strategic military equipment. Military sites in the coastal city of Tartus were subjected to a series of intense airstrikes on the night of December 15, 2024, targeting air defense units and missile depots.

Bombardment of Strategic Air Bases:
Israeli strikes extensively targeted Syrian air force bases and radar systems, including Qamishli Air Base in northeastern Syria, Shinshar Base in Homs countryside, Aqraba Airport near Damascus, Khalkhalah Airport in northern Sweida, and Deir Ezzor Military Airport. The strikes destroyed dozens of warplanes and helicopters. Additionally, Israeli aircraft bombed an air defense installation near the Latakia port, reflecting the wide geographic range of the attacks.

Recommendations and Demands:
The Syrian Center for Media and Freedom of Expression (SCM) condemns the repeated Israeli attacks on Syrian territories, which violate Syria’s sovereignty, destabilize the region, and clearly breach international law and the UN Charter. This dangerous military escalation requires a firm response from the international community to prevent further deterioration in Syria and the region.

Accordingly, we demand:

The Israeli Occupation State:

Immediate cessation of its continuous aggression on Syrian territories and withdrawal from areas occupied since December 8, 2024.
Compliance with its obligations under international humanitarian law, including halting the forced transfer of residents from recently occupied villages and ensuring the protection of civilian populations.

The United Nations:

Convening an emergency session of the Security Council to discuss these attacks and issue binding resolutions to stop Israeli aggression on Syria.
Forming an international investigative committee to probe Israeli violations and hold responsible parties accountable.
Compelling Israel, as the occupying state, to cease its aggression and establish a timeline for withdrawal from the occupied Syrian Golan since June/July 1967.

The International Community and Major Powers:

Calling on all nations, particularly the United States and Russia, as guarantors of the 1974 Disengagement Agreement, to exert diplomatic pressure on Israel to halt the escalation and comply with international resolutions.
Supporting efforts to rebuild Syrian state institutions to strengthen stability and prevent Syria from becoming a battleground for regional conflicts.

Regional Organizations and International Human Rights Bodies:

Urging the Arab League and the European Union to take a unified and clear stance condemning Israeli aggression and addressing it through diplomatic and legal means.
Calling on international human rights organisations to document these violations and pressure for Israel’s prosecution before international courts.

We also affirm that the continued international silence on these crimes threatens to entrench a culture of impunity, which is unacceptable at a time when the region desperately needs peace and stability.