NewzSyria's president Ahmed al-Sharaa spoke during the 81st UN General Assembly at the UN headquarters in New York. (AFP pic)NEW YORK: Syrian president Ahmed al-Sharaa insisted at the UN Wednesday that the Golan Heights region will remain Syrian after Colombia last month recognised 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 recognised Israel's claim over the Golan Heights, which it captured from Syria in 1967.The US had until then been the only country to recognise Israel's annexation of the territory in 1981.The UN 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 the global level," he said."It is reminiscent of an era that we thought was long gone," he said. Syria's President Ahmed al-Sharaa told the UN on Wednesday that the contested Golan Heights region would "remain Syrian" despite ongoing Israeli military occupation.
The Syrian leader also used his second turn at the UN rostrum to denounce repeated Israeli strikes on his country.
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