UNITED NATIONS, March 4 (Xinhua) -- A UN special envoy on Tuesday strongly condemned Israel's military escalations in Syria, including airstrikes, calling for an end to violations and refraining from exacerbating conflict.
"Such actions are unacceptable and risk further destabilizing an already fragile situation, heightening regional tensions, and undermining efforts toward de-escalation and a sustainable political transition in line with key principles of Security Council resolution 2254 (2015)," Geir Pedersen, the UN special envoy for Syria, warned in a statement.
Pedersen said he remained "deeply concerned" by Israel's continued violations of the 1974 Disengagement of Forces Agreement.
The special envoy called on Israel to cease violations, uphold its international obligations, and refrain from unilateral measures that exacerbate conflict.
Pedersen urged all parties to respect Syria's sovereignty, unity, independence, and territorial integrity. "Constructive dialogue and strict adherence to international agreements and international law are essential for security in Syria and the broader region," he said.
Israel launched airstrikes on Monday night targeting a Syrian air defense battalion near the western coastal city of Tartus, Syrian state media reported.
A spokesperson for the Israeli military confirmed that the Israel Defense Forces had struck a military site in Qardaha, a town near Tartus, adding that the attacks were in response to "recent developments in the region."
It was the latest Israeli attack in Syria, where, following the fall of Bashar al-Assad's government, Israel has deployed ground forces and conducted airstrikes. ■
