Damascus:Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani accused Israel on Tuesday of supporting armed militias in Suwayda, claiming that Israel provides them with weapons and money to promote chaos in the region. The accusations were made during a joint news conference in Damascus with Sabrina Dallafior, director-general of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW).

According to Anadolu Agency, al-Shaibani asserted that Israel has been attempting to destabilize Syria since December 2024, following the fall of the Assad regime. He accused Israel of attacks on infrastructure, occupation of Syrian territory, and the displacement and arbitrary arrest of Syrians, with the whereabouts of many detainees unknown.

Al-Shaibani urged the international community to stop Israeli actions that could lead to regional chaos and advocated for a return to the 1974 disengagement agreement. He called for Israel to seriously engage in US-sponsored negotiations, which have been ongoing for 18 months, emphasizing Syria's commitment to an agreement that respects its security and sovereignty.

Israel has occupied much of the Golan Heights since 1967 and expanded its presence in southern Syria after the fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime. The 1974 disengagement agreement established a UN-monitored buffer zone between Syrian and Israeli forces, and recent US-mediated talks have aimed at reducing tensions and reaching a security agreement. In August, Syrian and Israeli delegations met in Jordan to discuss halting Israeli military actions and the withdrawal of forces to pre-December 2024 positions.