Fionnuala Ní Aoláin warns that Israeli military actions in southern Syria may constitute war crimes.
Fionnuala Ní Aoláin, a United Nations commission commissioner, warned the UN Human Rights Council that Israeli military activities in southern Syria could be classified as war crimes. These operations include ground incursions, patrols, raids, and searches that affect Syrian civilians.
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Ní Aoláin reported that Israeli military presence in the region has become increasingly sustained and entrenched. The commission identified 49 Syrians, including two children, who were detained by the Israeli military on Syrian territory and believed to be transferred across the border. The commission noted that Israel's military presence extended into a UN-monitored buffer zone following the fall of former President Bashar al-Assad. While originally intended as a temporary measure to safeguard the border, the military presence has resulted in numerous strikes on Syrian military targets and furthered Israel's territorial reach. Syria and the United Nations argue these actions encroach upon Syrian sovereignty.
Sources
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Syria's Sovereignty under Siege: UN Raises Concerns
Devdiscourse
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Israeli actions in Syria may amount to war crimes, says UN
Middle East Eye