Ambassador Sabbagh: The simultaneous attacks of Israeli occupation and “ISIS” on Syrian territory confirm that they are two faces of the same coin

New York (ST): Syria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Bassam Sabbagh, affirmed that the Israeli occupation’s escalation of its attacks on Syrian territory and its coincidence with the attacks of the terrorist organization “Daesh”(ISIS) show the similarities between their terrorism and their coordination of these attacks, and prove that they are two sides of the same coin, and the goal is to prolong the crisis in Syria and deplete its capabilities.

Sabbagh said in a statement during a session of the Security Council on the political and humanitarian affairs in Syria that: At a time when the Syrian people are struggling to face the difficult humanitarian situation as a result of the devastating earthquake, the Israeli occupation forces have escalated their attacks on Syrian territory over the past weeks, and the US forces present illegally in the north-east of the country have escalated their attacks on Syrian sovereignty and plundering the resources and wealth of the Syrians, not to mention the terrorist groups’ attacks on civilians and preventing the delivery of humanitarian aid to our people in the affected areas in the north-west, in addition to the continuation of the measures of economic terrorism and collective punishment imposed on the Syrian people represented by the illegal unilateral measures that prevent improving the humanitarian situation and meeting the humanitarian needs of the Syrians.

Sabbagh explained that “Israel” continued its attacks on Syrian lands, which affected residential buildings, civilian airports, and infrastructure in Damascus and its surroundings, the southern region, Aleppo, Homs, and its countryside, and led to the death of a number of civilians, the injury of others, and the occurrence of severe material damage, and in clear coincidence with that the “ISIS” terrorist organization repeatedly targeted civilians, as on the 16th of this month, it launched an attack on the people in the eastern countryside of Hama while they were collecting truffles, and 26 citizens were killed, stressing that these simultaneous and coordinated attacks show similarities between “ISIS” terrorism and “Israel’s” terrorism, and it proves that they are two sides of the same coin, and it aims beyond any doubt to prolong the crisis in Syria and deplete its capabilities. Once again Syria warns Israel and its sponsors of the dangers of these reckless policies that push the region towards a comprehensive escalation and another phase of insecurity and instability, referring to the need for the Security Council to bear its responsibilities and condemn these violations, work to stop them and ensure that they are not repeated, and hold “Israel” accountable for them.

The permanent representative of Syria to the United Nations pointed out that in a related context, the American occupation forces launched attacks on areas in Deir Ezzour  governorate, which led to a number of victims and material damage, which represents an actual embodiment of the crime of aggression, pointing out that any pretexts promoted by the US administration in this regard are a failed attempt to justify its flagrant violation of Syria’s sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity, and its violation of the United Nations Charter, the rules of international law and Security Council resolutions related to Syria.

Sabbagh renewed Syria’s demand for the United States to stop its hostile approach, end its illegal military presence on Syrian territory, sponsorship of terrorist entities and separatist groups, and stop its systematic plundering of natural resources and national wealth, and the necessity for the Security Council to condemn all forms of violation of Syria’s sovereignty, independence, unity, and territorial integrity, and interference in its affairs including repeated attempts to infiltrate into its territory by delegations of some Western countries members of the Security Council, the latest of which was the illegal infiltration of a number of French senators at the end of last month into northeastern Syria in flagrant violation of the Charter of the United Nations, and Security Council resolutions related to Syria.

Sabbagh indicated that the efforts made by Syria to deliver humanitarian aid from within to all those in need, including our people in the northwest, especially during the post-earthquake period, faced a major challenge as a result of the existence of terrorist organizations in that region that refused the passage of aid convoys, not to mention their attacks on military forces in the safe areas and on the Syrian Arab Army forces present in the de-escalation zone. What is unfortunate is the suspicious silence and paralysis shown by the Security Council regarding these practices.

Sabbagh pointed out that Syria made exceptional efforts to deal with the repercussions of the earthquake, including the opening of two additional border crossings (Bab al-Salama and al-Rai) by a sovereign decision for a period of three months, to ensure the flow and arrival of urgent humanitarian aid to our people in the northwest.

He affirmed that the illegal Western coercive economic measures represent a growing challenge to improving the humanitarian situation and a tool of collective punishment against the Syrian people.

Sabbagh stressed that based on Syria’s keenness on the brotherly relations that bind the Arab countries, it is working to re-strengthen its relations with them, which reflects an Arab and regional interest, and plays a necessary role in supporting and helping the Syrian people to overcome the current challenges.

K.Q.