Iraq’s foreign ministry on Sunday strongly condemned Israel’s expansion into Syrian territory, calling it a “flagrant violation of international law” and asserting that Syria must regain full control over its lands. The statement highlighted Iraq’s firm stance in support of Syrian sovereignty.

“The ministry expresses its strong condemnation and denunciation of the decision of the Zionist entity’s government to expand its settlement policy in the Syrian Golan, which represents a flagrant violation of international law and international resolutions,” the ministry declared.

The condemnation follows reports that Israeli troops crossed the border into a buffer zone east of the annexed Golan Heights. This move occurred as Islamist-led rebels advanced on Damascus, which led to widespread criticism from Arab countries and the United Nations. The border crossing has been seen as a breach of the 1974 armistice agreement.

Israel has justified the deployment of its troops as a precautionary measure in response to the political instability in Syria. However, Iraq’s foreign ministry maintained that any actions altering the legal and demographic status of the Golan Heights are “null and void.”

“Iraq stresses its firm and supportive position on the rights of the Syrian Arab Republic to regain its full sovereignty over its lands,” the statement said. “The Golan is occupied Syrian land, and any measures taken to challenge its legal and demographic status are null and void.”

The Iraqi government also called on the international community to take a stand against Israel’s expansion into Syrian territory. It urged global powers to ensure respect for Syria’s sovereignty and prevent further breaches of international law.

In a related development, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that Israel carried out its “most violent” airstrikes since 2012 on Syria’s coastal region of Tartous on Monday. Israel’s military actions in Syria have been ongoing since the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime, with hundreds of airstrikes aimed at destroying Syria’s military stockpiles to prevent them from falling into the hands of rebel forces.

The situation in the Golan Heights remains a contentious issue, with Arab countries and international bodies consistently calling for Israel to respect Syria’s territorial integrity. Iraq’s latest statement reflects broader regional opposition to Israel’s actions in the area.