UN officials have warned that Israeli attacks and violations against Syria threaten the fragile political transition process in the Arab country.

At the invitation of Algeria and Somalia, the UN Security Council held an emergency session on Thursday to discuss recent Israeli violations of Syrian sovereignty.

In his briefing to the Security Council, Khaled Khiari, the UN Assistant Secretary-General for Middle East, Asia, and the Pacific, confirmed that Israel has launched hundreds of airstrikes across Syria since the fall of the Assad regime on December 8, 2024.

Khiari noted that the Israeli military also announced that it had built several military outposts in the separation zone in the Syrian Golan Heights, and that Israeli officials also spoke of Israel's intention to remain in Syria for the foreseeable future.

"Such facts on the ground cannot be easily changed," Khiari warned. "They already threaten Syria's fragile political transition."

In turn, the Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations, Jean-Pierre Lacroix, said, "The situation in the area of operations of the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) remains volatile and continues to be characterized by significant violations of the 1974 Disengagement Agreement, with the Israeli army entering the buffer zone since December 8, 2024."

He pointed out that the Israeli army continues to build barriers to prevent movement along the ceasefire line.

He stressed that the Israeli army "continues to impose some restrictions on the movement of UNDOF personnel and the Golan Observer Group in the Area of Separation. Restrictions also continue to be imposed on the movement of the local population."

He explained that "residents of some areas protested the disturbances caused by Israeli military activities, including farming, the detention of civilians, and the seizure of large numbers of livestock. Some residents also appealed to UNDOF to demand that the Israeli military leave their villages."

Lacroix stressed that it is imperative that all parties fulfill their obligations under the 1974 Disengagement Agreement, adding that "all actions that conflict with the agreement are unacceptable."

The UN official stressed the need for the UN Disengagement Observer Force to enjoy freedom of movement in its area of operations, asserting that the mission "remains essential to the stability of the Golan Heights and the region."

On April 2, Israel killed 9 civilians and injured 23 others in a bombing of Daraa Governorate (south), and launched air strikes on the countryside of Damascus, Hama, and Homs (central).

The following day, the Syrian Foreign Ministry stated that Israeli forces launched airstrikes on five areas across the country within 30 minutes, resulting in the near-total destruction of Hama Military Airport.

She stressed that Israel is undermining post-war recovery efforts in Syria, and called on the international community to pressure Tel Aviv to halt its aggression and abide by the disengagement agreement.

Although the new Syrian administration, headed by Ahmad al-Sharaa, has not threatened Israel in any way, Tel Aviv has been launching airstrikes on Syria on an almost daily basis for months, killing civilians and destroying Syrian military sites, vehicles, and ammunition.

On December 8, 2024, Syrian factions completed their control of the country, ending 61 years of Baath Party rule and 53 years of Assad family control, including 24 years during which Bashar al-Assad was president (2000-2024).

Since 1967, Israel has occupied most of the Syrian Golan Heights. Taking advantage of the new situation in the country following the fall of the Assad regime, it occupied the Syrian buffer zone and declared the collapse of the 1974 disengagement agreement between the two sides.