China urges 'Israel' to withdraw from Syria, Lebanon: Envoy to UN

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
21 Mar 2025 23:45
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Chinese Ambassador to the United Nations Fu Cong stresses that "the political transition in Syria is at a critical stage."

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Israeli tanks and a bulldozer drive through the Abu Diab military post, on March 19, 2025, on the southern outskirts of the Syrian border town of Quneitra (AFP)

China calls on "Israel" to swiftly withdraw its forces from Syria and Lebanon, Chinese Ambassador to the United Nations Fu Cong stated on Friday.

"China urges Israel to withdraw from Syria and Lebanon without delay. The political transition in Syria is at a critical stage," Fu Cong said during a UN meeting on Palestine.

The Chinese envoy also voiced concerns over renewed escalations in Yemen and the Red Sea, urging the United States to cease its airstrikes on Yemeni territory. Since last week, the US has launched multiple rounds of strikes on Yemen, after the latter resumed operations against Israeli-linked vessels in support of Gaza amid the ongoing Israeli aggression on the enclave.

The November 27 ceasefire agreement ended an Israeli war on Lebanon, but "Israel" has since continued to carry out strikes and maintained a military presence in five locations in southern Lebanon, near the border with occupied Palestine.

"Israel" was required to complete its troop withdrawal from areas it controls in southern Lebanon by the morning of January 26, marking 60 days since the agreement took effect. However, "Israel" failed to comply, and the United States subsequently extended the agreement until February 18, 2025.

In December, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that the 1973 disengagement agreement with Syria concerning the Golan Heights was no longer valid, citing the withdrawal of Syrian forces following the ouster of President Bashar al-Assad’s government.

Netanyahu subsequently ordered the Israeli military to seize the UN-patrolled buffer zone that has separated Israeli and Syrian forces on the strategic Golan Heights since 1974. The Golan Heights, originally part of Syria, were occupied by "Israel" during the 1967 Six-Day War.

The Israeli premier last month demanded "the complete demilitarisation of southern Syria" and said "Israel" would not accept the new Syrian authorities to be present there.

Since the fall of al-Assad's regime in December 2024, Israeli operations have intensified, with occupation forces expanding their incursions into Syrian territory beyond the demilitarized zone.

"Israel" has seized control of approximately 95% of Quneitra province and large parts of western Daraa’s countryside, including the Yarmouk Basin. Additionally, the occupation has established several military positions in strategic locations, such as the slopes of Mount Hermon, granting its forces direct fire control over Daraa, Quneitra, and the Damascus countryside.

IOF carry out incursions in Quneitra countryside, bomb Palmyra

As part of the ongoing military escalation, an Israeli occupation military convoy advanced from Tal al-Ahmar al-Gharbi toward the village of al-Asha in the southern countryside of Quneitra, southern Syria.

Meanwhile, Syrian media reported that Israeli airstrikes targeted the Palmyra military airport in the countryside of Homs, central Syria.

Local sources said Israeli airstrikes targeted the T-4 military airport east of Homs.

Israeli media, on the other hand, claimed that the strikes targeted three military sites in the Palmyra desert in the Homs countryside.

A few days earlier, the Israeli Air Force carried out multiple airstrikes on military bases west of Daraa, killing two civilians and injuring 19 others due to the intense explosions.