Damascus: Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani accused Israel on Monday of violating the 1974 Disengagement Agreement by establishing intelligence facilities and military posts in demilitarized areas to advance its 'expansionist and partition plans.' Shaibani made the remarks at an emergency meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation's (OIC) foreign ministers to discuss Israel's actions in the Gaza Strip.

According to Anadolu Agency, Shaibani criticized Israel for setting up intelligence centers and military points inside restricted zones, which he claims serve an expansionist agenda. He argued that these actions aim to destabilize Syria's national unity, incite sectarian conflict, and transform the occupied Syrian Golan Heights into a strategic base for further land acquisition.

The Syrian foreign minister called on the United Nations to take responsibility for documenting and halting Israeli incursions and violations. He also urged the OIC to support Syria's stance in international forums and reject any attempts to legitimize the occupation or impose realities by force that undermine Syrian sovereignty.

The 1974 Syria-Israel Disengagement Agreement, reached after the 1973 Middle East war, was designed to separate the warring forces and end direct clashes. It established two main demarcation lines, known as the Alpha and Bravo lines, with a buffer zone under the supervision of the UN Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF).

Damascus has consistently condemned Israel's actions as violations of its sovereignty and reaffirmed its commitment to the 1974 disengagement deal. In contrast, Israel declared the agreement null following the fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime in late 2024. Despite the change in Syrian leadership, Israeli military incursions and airstrikes have continued, affecting civilians and infrastructure.

For the past seven months, the Israeli army has occupied Mount Hermon and a 15-kilometer-wide security strip in southern Syria, affecting over 40,000 Syrians within the buffer zone. Israel's occupation of the Syrian Golan Heights, which began in 1967, has been a point of contention, with Syrian officials accusing Israel of exploiting Assad's overthrow to expand its occupation.

Assad fled to Russia last December, ending his nearly 25-year rule and the Baath Party's long-standing governance since 1963. A new transitional administration, led by President Ahmad al-Sharaa, was established in January.