Arab nations condemn Israeli strikes on Syria

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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks during a press conference in Jerusalem on March 19, 2026. (Photo by Ronen Zvulun / POOL / AFP) /

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Saudi Arabia’s foreign ministry condemned on Saturday Israel’s strikes on Syrian army camps as “aggression”, joining other Arab nations and Turkey in calling on the international community to intervene.

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Israel’s military said on Friday it had struck southern Syria in response to what it called attacks against the Druze community in Sweida province.

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Israel had bombed Syria during a deadly bout of sectarian violence last year, saying it was acting to defend the minority group.

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The Saudi foreign ministry said in a statement that the kingdom condemned “the blatant Israeli aggression… in flagrant violation of international law and Syrian sovereignty”.

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It urged the international community “to put an end to Israel’s violations of international laws and norms”.

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The Turkish foreign ministry earlier called the Israeli attack “a dangerous escalation” that must be stopped.

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Egypt, Jordan, Qatar and Kuwait all joined in condemning the Israeli strikes, stressing the need to ensure Syria’s sovereignty and the global community’s role in preventing such attacks.

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Cairo’s foreign ministry urged “the UN Security Council to assume its responsibilities and take immediate action to put an end to these ongoing Israeli violations and attacks”.

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The Israeli strikes came as war roiled the Middle East after the US and Israel attacked Iran on February 28, sparking a conflict that has engulfed much of the region, although Syria has avoided being dragged into it.

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The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) reported on Thursday that clashes with government forces in Sweida province left at least four Druze fighters dead.

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Israeli shelling later hit residential neighbourhoods in Sweida city, the Observatory said.

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After the overthrow of Syria’s longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad in December 2024, Israel moved its forces into the UN-patrolled demilitarised zone on the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights, and has carried out hundreds of strikes in Syria as well as regular incursions.

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The military said on Friday it “will not allow harm to come to Druze in Syria and will continue to act for their protection”.

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The Syrian foreign ministry denounced an “outrageous assault on Syria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity” and called the Israeli justification “flimsy pretexts and fabricated excuses”.

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President Ahmed al-Sharaa said on Friday that he was working “to keep Syria away from any conflict” and that his government was on good terms “with all neighbouring states”.

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AFP

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