The Daily Populous Thursday December 12nd, 2024 day edition
Authored by lemonde.fr and submitted by advance512

Israel must withdraw forces from the buffer zone separating the annexed Golan Heights from Syrian territory, France's foreign ministry said Wednesday.

"Any military deployment in the separation zone between Israel and Syria is a violation of the disengagement agreement of 1974," a foreign ministry spokesman said.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Sunday he had ordered the army to "seize" the demilitarized zone in the Syrian-controlled part of the Golan Heights after rebels swept Syrian President Bashar al-Assad from power.

"France calls on Israel to withdraw from the zone and to respect Syria's sovereignty and territorial integrity," the foreign ministry spokesman said.

Read more Subscribers only Israel takes advantage of Syrian regime's fall to extend its control of strategic areas

The area is patrolled by a UN peacekeeping force known as UNDOF, with the global body warning Israel Monday it is in breach of the 50-year-old deal that ended a 1973 war with Syria. Speaking on condition of anonymity, a UN official in New York told AFP that Israeli forces had occupied seven positions in the buffer zone.

France's intervention follows condemnations from Saudi Arabia, Iran, Russia and Turkey, as well as a US call for the Israeli incursion to be "temporary."

justhistory on December 11st, 2024 at 23:19 UTC »

I wonder if they told their fellow NATO ally Turkey to withdraw from the North and to stop attacking the Kurds?

Haunting_Birthday135 on December 11st, 2024 at 20:22 UTC »

Hours before his government lost a no-confidence vote, Macron met with MBS and discussed establishing a new state in the Middle East. He is quite active in foreign policy for someone without a government at home.

Common-Second-1075 on December 11st, 2024 at 20:10 UTC »

Does that mean France is going to send troops to secure the buffer zone?

Because, if not, then France is all care no responsibility.