Qatar condemns Israeli defense minister's unauthorized entry into Syria

Qatar strongly condemned an unauthorized visit by Israel's defense minister to Syrian territory, describing the move as a flagrant violation of international law and an assault on Syrian sovereignty. The Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the entry occurred without coordination with Damascus or any recognized international authority, calling it a transgression of internationally recognized borders that undermines efforts to stabilize Syria after years of conflict. Doha reiterated its consistent position that any external military presence or incursion onto Syrian soil must be conditioned on the explicit consent of the Syrian government and full respect for the country's territorial integrity. The statement urged the international community, including the United Nations Security Council, to hold Israel accountable and prevent further violations that could destabilize an already fragile security situation in the region. Qatar's foreign ministry has repeatedly voiced concern over Israeli military activity inside Syria since the fall of the former government, warning that repeated incursions risk derailing Syria's fragile transition and emboldening further unilateral actions that flout international norms. Doha has positioned itself as a key mediator and donor supporting Syria's reconstruction and political transition, and has consistently framed Israeli military actions in Syrian territory, including airstrikes and ground incursions in the south, as obstacles to regional stability. Qatari officials called on Damascus's international partners to press for accountability mechanisms and reaffirmed support for Syria's sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity as it works to rebuild state institutions and secure its borders following the change in government.