Al-Dahhak: Israeli aggression against Iranian Consulate in Damascus a dangerous precedent and grave violation of international conventions

New York (ST) – Syria’s permanent representative to the United Nations Qusay Al-Dahhak affirmed that the barbaric Israeli aggression against the Iranian consulate in Damascus is a dangerous precedent and a grave violation of international conventions and norms that guarantee the protection of diplomatic headquarters and their personnel, and prohibit any attacks on them.

Al-Dahhak indicated that the American administration bears full responsibility for the consequences of the repeated Israeli attacks on regional and international peace and security.

During an emergency session of the Security Council on threats to international peace and security on Tuesday, Al-Dahhak said:” In a new Israeli attack on my country, at 5:00 PM on Monday, the Israeli occupation forces launched a barbaric aggression with missiles from the direction of the occupied Syrian Golan, targeting the Iranian consulate building in Mazzeh neighborhood in Damascus. The attack led to the destruction of the entire building of the consulate and the martyrdom and injury of all those inside it, Syrians and Iranians, in addition to a number of passers-by in the area.”

Al-Dahhak noted that the targeted Iranian building is a few meters away from the headquarters of foreign diplomatic missions and international organizations, including the World Food Programme (WFP), a private hospital, colleges affiliated with the University of Damascus, and a number of banks and private companies.

“This attack constitutes a dangerous precedent and a grave violation of international conventions and norms that guarantee the protection of diplomatic headquarters and personnel and the prohibition of any attacks on them, including the Vienna Conventions on Diplomatic and Consular Relations, and the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of Crimes against Internationally Protected Persons, including Diplomatic Agents”, Al-Dahhak said.

He indicated that these hysterical attacks also affected, over the past days, civilian buildings and facilities in Damascus countryside, Aleppo and Deir ez-Zor countryside, causing the death and injury of a number of civilians and soldiers.

Al-Dahhak stressed that the Israeli occupation would not have carried out this aggression without the American support that provided it with protection and impunity and enabled it to commit the most heinous atrocities, the latest of which is the crime of genocide and the brutal crimes that have continued against the Palestinian people for six months.

He noted that the American administration was quick, after the Security Council adopted Resolution 2728, to claim that it is non-binding and does not impose any new obligations, to exempt Israel from implementing it.

Syria’s permanent representative to the UN stressed that the failure of the Security Council to carry out its responsibilities as a result of the obstructive role of the US undermines the collective security system on which the UN was founded, and pushes its member states to believe that it is futile to rely on the force of law and international legitimacy to restore their rights.

Najla Khoury