Qatar’s Prime Minister has strongly criticized Israel for moving its troops into a sensitive buffer zone in Syria. The buffer zone, which lies near the Golan Heights, was set up by the United Nations in 1974 as a demilitarized area. Speaking at a press conference in Damascus, the Prime Minister called Israel’s actions reckless and demanded that they immediately pull their forces out of the zone.
This area had remained peaceful for decades, separating Syrian and Israeli forces under a UN-brokered ceasefire. However, recent events changed this balance after Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad was removed from power by opposition fighters. Following this, Israel sent its military units into the buffer zone and carried out multiple airstrikes across Syria, saying these were aimed at stopping weapons from reaching extremist groups.
The Prime Minister emphasized that Israel’s occupation of the buffer zone violates international agreements. He also promised to work with other countries, including Western nations and the United States, to put pressure on Israel to leave the area.
Syria’s New Leadership Speaks Out
At the same press conference, Syria’s new leader, Ahmed al-Sharaa, also addressed the situation. He stated that Israel is using false reasons to justify its actions in the region. Israel has claimed its advances were necessary to deal with Iranian militias and Hezbollah, but al-Sharaa dismissed these claims, saying that these groups are no longer present after the opposition took control of Damascus.
Al-Sharaa expressed Syria’s readiness to welcome UN peacekeeping forces into the buffer zone to help stabilize the region. He accused Israel of taking advantage of the current instability in Syria to push further into its territory.
Israel Threatens Ceasefire Collapse if Hezbollah Stays South of Litani River
Syria’s new leadership is now looking for international support to push back against Israel’s military actions. The Prime Minister of Qatar promised to assist the Syrian government in this matter, highlighting Qatar’s willingness to work alongside other nations to resolve the crisis.
Qatar Pledges Support for Syria’s Recovery
In addition to his strong stance against Israel’s actions, Qatar’s Prime Minister also promised significant help to Syria’s new government. He said that Qatar is ready to provide technical support to rebuild Syria’s infrastructure, which has been destroyed by nearly 14 years of war. This includes assistance in restoring the electricity system, which is critical for the country’s recovery.
The Prime Minister also called for international sanctions on Syria to be lifted. He argued that these restrictions make it harder to provide aid and rebuild the country. While sanctions were originally imposed due to allegations of crimes committed by the previous Syrian government, the Prime Minister emphasized that they now harm the Syrian people.
To address some of these challenges, the United States recently issued a temporary license allowing certain transactions with Syria, including energy sales. This move does not completely remove sanctions but allows limited activities to help meet basic needs like humanitarian aid and public services.
The European Union is also considering the situation. At the end of January, EU leaders are scheduled to meet and discuss the possibility of easing sanctions on Syria. This decision could have a significant impact on the country’s rebuilding efforts.
The press conference ended with the Prime Minister reaffirming Qatar’s commitment to helping Syria recover and to ensuring stability in the region. His strong statements against Israel’s actions in the buffer zone and his promises of aid to Syria show Qatar’s growing role in addressing the challenges facing the Middle East.
