Syria Blasts Trump, Vows to Recover «Israeli»-Occupied Golan Heights

By Staff, Agencies

The Syrian Foreign Ministry has condemned US President Donald Trump’s comments on the Golan Heights as “irresponsible”, adding that the Syrian people are determined to recover the area through “all available means”, Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) reports.

The Ministry pointed out that Trump's statement "confirms the US’s blind commitment to Israel and support for its aggressive behavior".

"It became clear to the international community that the United States and their reckless policies, which are dominated by arrogance and hegemonic ambitions, are a major factor in exacerbating the situation in the global arena and threaten peace and stability," the Ministry underscored.

It also noted that the US clearly violates international law and a number of UN resolutions, in particular, Resolution 497, in which the “Israeli” entity intentions to establish its laws in the Golan Heights are considered invalid and illegal.

The statement comes after Trump tweeted on Thursday that “after 52 years it is time for the United States to fully recognize ‘Israel's’ Sovereignty over the Golan Heights, which is of critical strategic and security importance to” “Israel” and “regional stability.”

“Israeli” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, for his part, thanked Trump for “boldly” recognizing “Israeli” sovereignty over the Golan Heights "at a time when Iran seeks to use Syria as a platform to destroy ‘Israel’". US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, in turn, claimed during his visit to al-Quds [Jerusalem] on Thursday that Trump had been sent by God to Earth in order to save the “Israeli” entity.

The remarks followed US Senator Lindsey Graham telling Netanyahu earlier this month that he will push for Washington to formally recognize the Golan Heights as part of the entity.

A strategic area covering some 1,200 square kilometers, the Golan Heights were occupied by “Israel” during the 1967 Six-Day War. Netanyahu has repeatedly underlined that the entity would not meet Syria's demands that it retreat to the 1967 lines because they were “indefensible”, and that the Golan Heights would “remain in the hands of ‘Israel’ forever”.