Syria calls on UN to prevent further Israeli attacks

Israel has launched several attacks against Damascus, which Tel Aviv claims are aimed at targets of Iranian-backed militias

ByvNews Desk; The December 22, 2022

https://thecradle.co/Article/News/19766

Syria’s representative to the UN Bassam Sabbah called on the UN Security Council (UNSC) on 22 December to condemn Tel Aviv’s attacks against Damascus, adding that it must end its frequent attacks on the Arab state.

During the Security Council session that tackled humanitarian and political affairs, Sabbah emphasized that solving the crisis would require lifting all unilateral sanctions placed on Syria, the withdrawal of the US occupation forces, and the prevention of Israeli air strikes on Syrian soil. 

A few days prior, the Israeli military fired precision missiles at Damascus, resulting in material damages and injuries to units of the Syrian Arab Army (SAA).

Several of the missiles launched by Tel Aviv were shot down by Syria’s aging air defense (AD) systems, despite Israel’s attack being successful as it met many of its objectives.

In November, large explosions ripped through the outskirts of the Al Bukamal area following airstrikes launched near the Syrian-Iraqi border crossing, killing 15 people.

Al-Mayadeen reported that Israeli drones targeted two tankers transporting oil from Iraq toward the Syrian territories.

Bassam reiterated that Damascus requires the UN to take action to prevent further attacks from Tel Aviv and action against Washington for its looting of oil from Syria’s northern region.

He added that the UN’s insistence on extending humanitarian aid to Syria contradicts the continuation of economic sanctions from the west.

National consensus suggests that the US coalition’s scheme of looting oil, wheat, and other commodities inhibits Syria from rebuilding its infrastructure.

The Syrian government has indicated several times that Kurdish opposition groups in Syria, such as the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and its affiliates, the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) and People’s Protections Units (YPG), facilitate the transfer of stolen oil to Iraq for Washington. 

In December, Damascus renewed its call for the withdrawal of all US troops from Syria’s northeastern province. The Syrian government has previously accused the US of using its fight against ISIS to justify stealing the country’s national resources.

Syria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates estimates the damages inflicted by US air strikes and military operations to be anywhere near $25.9 billion, with indirect losses amounting to over $86 billion. 

To express Syria’s frustration with the presence of US forces, Damascus sent two letters to the security council and the Secretary General of the UN.

Last month, the SDF asked Washington for stronger assurances to prevent Turkish offenses against its forces in Syria.

While joint military operations between the SDF and Washington came to a brief pause due to Turkish air strikes, the SDF recently announced that the joint operations have resumed, leading to the arrest of a high-ranking emir of ISIS.