Syria condemns Colombia's Golan recognition

Syria's foreign ministry on Tuesday condemned Colombia's recognition of Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights, a day after Colombia became only the second country after the United States to recognise Israel's claim to the territory.

Syria said it rejected and condemned Colombia's position and said the Golan is an inseparable part of Syrian territory. It called the Colombian announcement a violation of the UN Charter, recent remarks by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and a UN Security Council resolution.

Colombia's foreign ministry said Monday that maintaining Israel's control and sovereignty over the Golan Heights is an essential component of Israel's national defence. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar thanked Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella, who took office on Friday.

Israel captured most of the Golan from Syria in the 1967 Arab-Israeli War and later annexed the areas under its control. The move is not recognised by most of the international community. During a visit to Syria last month, Guterres said violations of Syria's sovereignty and territorial integrity were unacceptable and said the Golan Heights are Syrian territory.

De la Espriella promised close relations with the United States and Israel during his campaign. His predecessor, Gustavo Petro, criticised Israel's offensive in Gaza, severed diplomatic relations and halted Israeli arms imports into Colombia.

After the December 2024 overthrow of longtime Syrian ruler Bashar al-Assad, Israel sent troops into the UN-patrolled buffer zone that had separated Israeli and Syrian forces in the Israeli-occupied Golan since 1974. Israel has also carried out strikes and repeated incursions into southern Syria, where it seeks an expanded demilitarised zone.