US senators call for immediate halt to Israeli bombing in Syria Strikes make stability “more difficult to achieve”

A group of US senators has voiced strong concern over Israeli military strikes in Syria, emphasising that the war-torn country needs support and stability after more than 14 years of relentless conflict.

In a statement, Democratic Senator Jeanne Shaheen and Republican Senators Joni Ernst and Joe Wilson, who recently visited Syria, urged Israel to halt hostilities, noting that last night’s attacks undermine efforts to restore peace and security, Caliber.Az reports per Turkish media.

“Syria needs a chance to move beyond the violence and conflict that has consumed it for over 14 years. Israel’s destabilising strikes make achieving this goal far more difficult,” the senators said.

The lawmakers reiterated their support for the recent US decision to lift certain sanctions on Syria, underscoring the importance of a stable Damascus for regional security.

“We call on Israel to seize this opportunity and immediately cease hostilities, so that Syrians and Special Envoy Tom Barrack’s recorded progress can continue. The only path to countering Iranian influence and controlling the ISIS threat is through a stable and secure Syria,” they added.

The warning follows Israeli drone strikes on August 27 targeting the Küsve area near Damascus, which killed six Syrian soldiers. In the aftermath, the Israeli military carried out multiple airstrikes on Mani Mountain in the same region.

Deepening Israeli occupation in Syrian territories

The tensions come amid Israel’s long-standing occupation of the Golan Heights, held since 1967. On December 8, 2024, Israeli forces extended control into an adjacent buffer zone, moving within 20 kilometres of the Syrian capital, Damascus.

The 1974 Separation of Forces Agreement had previously delineated boundaries for the buffer zone and demilitarised areas, but Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has signalled that Israel’s presence in southern Syria will be permanent, demanding the disarmament of the region in contravention of Syria’s sovereignty.

Israel also intervened in southern Syria’s Suwayda province on 13 July, engaging in clashes and striking locations near the Presidential Palace and General Staff headquarters in Damascus.

US lawmakers’ statements mark a rare moment of Washington openly urging Israel to reconsider its military actions in Syria, highlighting the delicate balance between supporting an ally and promoting regional stability.

By Aghakazim Guliyev