Saudi crown prince condemns Israeli strikes on Syria in call with Syrian president

ISTANBUL

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman renewed his country’s condemnation of Israel’s repeated airstrikes on Syria during a phone call on Thursday with Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa.

According to the Saudi state news agency SPA, bin Salman praised the Syrian government’s response to recent unrest and welcomed measures announced by Sharaa to contain the crisis, particularly in the southern province of Suwayda.

The crown prince also emphasized the need for the international community to prevent any external interference in Syria’s internal affairs and reiterated Riyadh’s rejection of actions that threaten civil peace and social cohesion in the country.

At the beginning of the call, bin Salman welcomed Sharaa’s “arrangements and steps to de-escalate the situation in Syria,” expressing confidence in the Syrian government’s ability to restore security and stability.

He also commended Sharaa’s decision to assign local factions and senior Druze clerics the responsibility for maintaining security in Suwayda.

In a recorded address early Thursday, Sharaa described the move as a response to “the serious threat posed to our national unity” and a measure to prevent Syria from sliding into a new civil war.

Bin Salman highlighted Sharaa’s efforts to “keep Syria on the right path, safeguard its territorial integrity, and foster national unity among all segments of Syrian society.” He called for continued progress on all levels to achieve the development and prosperity Syrians seek.

He reiterated Saudi Arabia’s firm support for Syria’s sovereignty and social stability and condemned Israeli strikes as blatant violations of Syrian territory and internal sovereignty.

Bin Salman also stressed the need for greater international support for the Syrian government and urged the global community to oppose any form of external interference in Syria under any justification.

During the call, Sharaa thanked Saudi Arabia for its consistent support, expressing appreciation for the crown prince’s efforts to promote security and stability in Syria and the wider region, according to SPA.

The call comes a day after Israeli forces launched airstrikes on more than 160 targets across four Syrian provinces – Suwayda, Daraa, Damascus, and Damascus countryside – killing three people and injuring 34 in the capital alone.

On June 13, clashes broke out between Bedouin Arab tribes and local Druze armed groups in Suwayda. The violence escalated, leading to deadly attacks by Druze fighters on Syrian security forces deployed in the area. Dozens of soldiers were reportedly killed.

A temporary ceasefire was reached between government forces and local Druze factions, but soon collapsed. Israeli airstrikes followed, targeting Syrian military positions and infrastructure.

Israel has cited “protection of Druze communities” as a pretext for its attacks in Syria, especially in the country’s south.

However, most Druze leaders in Syria have publicly rejected any foreign interference and reaffirmed their commitment to a unified Syrian state.

Following the fall of Assad in December 2024, Israel intensified its air campaign in Syria and declared the buffer zone between the two countries defunct alongside the 1974 Disengagement Agreement.