UN's special envoy Geir Pedersen talks to the media outside a hotel in Damascus. AFP
"I strongly condemn Israel's continued and escalating violations of Syria's sovereignty, including multiple air strikes in Damascus and other cities," Pedersen said in a post on X, adding: "I call for these attacks to cease at once and for Israel to stop endangering Syrian civilians and to respect international law and Syria's sovereignty, unity, territorial integrity and independence."
Earlier on Saturday, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned an Israeli air strike Friday near Syria's presidential palace in Damascus.
Guterres "condemns Israel's violation of Syria's sovereignty, including the latest air strikes near the presidential palace in Damascus," said Stephane Dujarric, his spokesperson.
"It is essential that these attacks stop and that Israel respects Syria's sovereignty, its unity, its territorial integrity and its independence," Dujarric added.
Israel has frequently cited the Druze minority as a justification for strikes across Syria, despite top Druze clerics and armed factions reaffirming their loyalty to the Syrian state and rejecting calls for separation.
*This story was edited by Ahram Online.
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