The leaders of the G7 group of rich nations —Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, the United States, and the European Union—called Thursday on all parties in Syria to respect the country’s “territorial integrity and national unity.”
“We, the leaders of the Group of Seven (G7), reaffirm our commitment to the people of Syria and fully support an inclusive, Syrian-led and Syrian-owned political transition process in line with U.N. Security Council Resolution 2254,” the statement said. This refers to a 2015 resolution that outlined a roadmap for political talks.
The G7 reiterated its demand that all parties in Syria’s 13-and-a-half-year-long civil war work to “preserve Syria’s territorial integrity and national unity, and respect its sovereignty and independence.”
The G7 also expressed support for the U.N. Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF), which has monitored the buffer zone on the Golan Heights since the 1974 Disengagement of Forces Agreement between Damascus and Jerusalem that ended the Yom Kippur War.
On Sunday, the Israel Defense Forces announced the temporary deployment of troops to the demilitarized buffer zone and “other locations necessary for defense.” This move came as rebel forces gained control of Damascus, toppling President Bashar Assad’s regime.
The IDF troops were deployed to secure “the safety of communities in the Golan Heights and the citizens of Israel,” the army said.
“The IDF is not involved in Syria’s internal affairs. It will continue its operations as necessary to preserve the buffer zone and protect Israel and its citizens,” the military added.
