Syria condemns Israeli strikes as ‘a deliberate attempt to destabilize’ the country

DAMASCUS, Syria — Syria condemns deadly Israeli strikes across the country as a “flagrant violation” of its sovereignty, after Israel said it struck “military capabilities.”

“In a blatant violation of international law and Syrian sovereignty, Israeli forces launched airstrikes on five locations across the country,” the Syrian foreign ministry says in a statement on Telegram.

“This unjustified escalation is a deliberate attempt to destabilize Syria and exacerbate the suffering of its people.”

It says the strikes resulted in the “near-total destruction” of a military airport in central Syrian province Hama, injuring dozens of civilians and soldiers.

The Syrian ministry says the strikes came as the country is trying to rebuild after 14 years of war, calling it a strategy to “normalize violence within the country.”