• Debris and military vehicles lie at the scene of an Israeli strike in Syria's southern Hama governorate, on April 3, 2025 (AFP) 

The United Kingdom has urged "Israel" to refrain from carrying out airstrikes on Syrian territory, emphasizing that Syria’s stability serves the broader interests of the entire region.

Hamish Falconer, the British Minister of State for the Middle East and North Africa, stated in a post on X on Friday: “Israel’s strikes in Syria have reportedly​ killed civilians and risk destabilising Syria further.”

“We call on Israel to respect Syria’s territorial integrity and address legitimate security threats through diplomacy,” Falconer stressed.

"A stable Syria is in the interests of the whole region."

His comments follow a series of recent Israeli attacks on Syrian territory. Last week, "Israel" conducted airstrikes on the capital, Damascus, as well as the central provinces of Hama and Homs, and the southern province of Daraa.

Israel’s strikes in Syria have reportedly​ killed civilians and risk destabilising Syria further.

We call on Israel to respect Syria’s territorial integrity and address legitimate security threats through diplomacy.

A stable Syria is in the interests of the whole region.

— Hamish Falconer MP (@HFalconerMP) April 4, 2025

On Thursday, Israeli aircraft carried out at least two strikes targeting military sites near Damascus, specifically in the al-Kiswah and al-Muqaylibah neighborhoods.

The attacks came less than 24 hours after similar Israeli strikes and a ground incursion that killed 13 people.

According to the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA), an Israeli airstrike late Wednesday on the Jubailiyah Forest area—located between the cities of Nawa and Tasil in southwestern Daraa—killed nine civilians and injured several others.

Since the collapse of Bashar al-Assad’s government last December at the hands of Islamist-led factions led by the Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) group, "Israel" has escalated its air campaign, targeting former Syrian military bases, weapons depots, and other facilities.

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Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that the 1973 disengagement agreement with Syria concerning the Golan Heights was no longer valid, citing the withdrawal of Syrian forces following the ouster of al-Assad’s government.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

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