Iranian diplomat asserts that the ongoing instability in Syria is advantageous to the Zionist regime
A senior Iranian diplomat stated that Tehran considers the instability in Syria to be advantageous to Israel and provides an opportunity for extremist elements to jeopardize regional security.
In a statement posted on X on Tuesday, Mohammad Reza Raouf Sheibani, the special representative for Syrian affairs of Iran’s foreign ministry, expressed concerns that instability and insecurity in Syria could advantage the Zionist regime. Sheibani emphasized that these conditions could also create opportunities for terrorist and extremist groups, thereby posing a significant threat to regional peace and stability.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a monitoring organization based in the United Kingdom, reported that since March 6, a total of 1,068 civilians have lost their lives in Syria’s western coastal region. These fatalities occurred amidst clashes involving militants aligned with the ruling HTS administration and armed opposition factions.
According to the monitoring organization, most of the casualties were individuals from the Alawite minority.
Iran has officially denounced the recent killings, asserting there is no legitimate reason for the assaults on minority groups in Syria.
Former Ambassador to Syria, Sheibani, characterized the level of violence and killings in the coastal provinces as “shocking” and urged for accountability measures to be taken against those responsible for these acts.
“The international community and regional populations are calling on the Syrian interim government to take decisive and comprehensive measures to halt the violence and hold accountable those responsible for orchestrating and executing such acts.”
**UN Reports Devastating Loss of Entire Families**
The United Nations human rights office reported on Tuesday that entire families, encompassing women and children, have been slain in the coastal region.
The UN human rights office has reported several alarming cases in which entire families, comprising women, children, and non-combatants, have been killed. These attacks have primarily targeted Alawite cities and villages, spokesperson Thameen Al-Kheetan stated.
Al-Kheetan reported to journalists that a significant number of the recorded instances involved summary executions, seemingly executed along sectarian lines.
According to testimonies from survivors, there have been instances where men were executed in the presence of their families.
UN Human Rights Chief Volker Turk has expressed approval following a declaration by the HTS administration regarding the establishment of an accountability committee. He has called for the ensuing investigations to be conducted swiftly, comprehensively, independently, and without bias, according to a spokesperson.
Israel conducted airstrikes targeting Syrian air defense systems, according to reports.
On Tuesday, Israel’s military announced that its warplanes conducted overnight strikes on southern Syria, targeting air defense systems and various military installations. This marks the most recent assault carried out by Israel on its neighboring nation.
Syrian media sources reported that Israel conducted airstrikes targeting the southern province of Daraa. According to the observatory, these strikes were concentrated on former Syrian army positions, impacting at least 17 sites, including an observation platform and multiple tanks.
The Israeli Defense Forces announced that their fighter jets conducted airstrikes targeting radar systems and detection equipment that are utilized for developing aerial intelligence evaluations. Additionally, the strikes were directed at command centers and military sites that house weaponry and military equipment associated with the Syrian government.
In a statement, the Israeli military announced that it conducted overnight strikes on specific targets, aiming to neutralize potential future threats.
Following the December ousting of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, Israel has initiated airstrikes in Syria and stationed troops in a UN-supervised buffer zone within the strategically significant Golan Heights.
In a statement issued in February, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu emphasized the necessity for a complete demilitarization of southern Syria. He cautioned that his administration would not tolerate the presence of forces associated with the newly established HTS administration in proximity to Israeli borders.
