UNITED NATIONS: United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has called on Israel to immediately halt its military incursions into Syrian territory, describing violations of the 1974 Disengagement of Forces Agreement as unacceptable.
In a statement posted on X, Guterres stressed that Israel must respect the decades-old agreement governing the ceasefire arrangements between Israel and Syria following the 1973 Arab-Israeli war.
Syria’s sovereignty, independence, unity & territorial integrity must be fully respected.
Violations by Israel of the 1974 Disengagement of Forces Agreement are unacceptable & must stop.
— António Guterres (@antonioguterres) July 26, 2026
“Violations by Israel of the 1974 Disengagement of Forces Agreement are unacceptable and must stop,” the UN chief said.
He further emphasised that Syria’s sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity must be fully respected, reiterating the United Nations’ longstanding position on the country’s internationally recognised borders.
The 1974 Disengagement of Forces Agreement established a UN-monitored buffer zone in the occupied Golan Heights following the 1973 conflict and has served as the framework for maintaining relative stability along the ceasefire line for decades.
Guterres’ remarks come amid growing international concern over Israeli military activity inside Syrian territory and renewed calls for all parties to uphold international law and existing agreements aimed at preventing further regional escalation.
