Golan will remain Syrian, vows President al-Sharaa at UN

Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa insisted at the UN Wednesday that the Golan Heights region will remain Syrian after Colombia last month recognized Israeli sovereignty over the strategically important territory.

"Any attempts that violate our sovereignty, violate international law, will be stopped. Golan will remain Syrian territories," al-Sharaa said at the UN meeting of world leaders in New York.

Colombia's new hard-right government in August recognized Israel's claim over the Golan Heights, which it captured from Syria in 1967.

The United States had until then been the only country to recognize Israel's annexation of the territory in 1981.

The United Nations maintains that the plateau is Syrian territory under Israeli military occupation.

In July UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres reiterated that the Golan Heights were part of Syria, describing Israeli occupation as "totally unacceptable."

Al-Sharaa also used his second turn at the UN rostrum to denounce repeated Israeli strikes on his country since the fall of former dictator Bashar al-Assad.

"Israel is launching attacks against Syria. There have been 500 air strikes, more than 1,200 incursions, and 300 detentions. This is at odds with the orientation we're seeing at global level," he said.

"It is reminiscent of a era that we thought was long gone."

But he held out hope that despite repeated "aggressions" by Israel, "the opportunity for peace and security is available to those who wish to live in peace -- a just peace that maintains the rights of all." 

During a discussion at the Atlantic Council on Tuesday, al-Sharaa said Syria wanted a peaceful solution with Israel and that negotiations between the two countries had resolved nearly 90 percent of the outstanding issues needed for a security agreement. 

gw/acb