By Merve Aydogan
HAMILTON, Canada (AA) – Syria’s UN Ambassador Qusay Al-Dahhak announced Monday that Syria had submitted identical letters to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and the UN Security Council condemning recent Israeli attacks on Syrian territory.
"We addressed identical letters today upon instructions from the Syrian government to the Secretary General, to the Security Council condemning this Israeli attack," Al-Dahhak told reporters following a closed session on Syria at the Security Council.
Urging the UN to act decisively, he said: "We called upon the UN and the Security Council to shoulder the responsibility in maintaining international peace and security and to stop, put an end to the Israeli attacks on Syria."
Al-Dahhak condemned the recent Israeli strikes, which he said targeted civilian and military infrastructure.
He accused Israel of exploiting Syria’s ongoing transition for its "occupation agenda" and called on the Security Council to compel Tel Aviv to respect international law and resolutions, including the 1974 Disengagement Agreement.
Asked about developments in Syria after anti-regime groups took control of the capital Damascus, Al-Dahhak said: "Syrian people and Syria now are witnessing a new era of change, a new phase of history...Syrians are looking forward to establishing a state of freedom, equality, the rule of law and democracy."
"We will join efforts to rebuild our country, to rebuild what was destroyed, and to rebuild the future, a better future of Syria for all Syrians," he added.
He also said he was as surprised about the swift advance of anti-regime groups as "everyone else was."
Al-Dahhak also reiterated his commitment to his nation.
"Me and my colleagues, we are part of the Syrian people. We are public servants. We work for Syria. We work to help the Syrian people. We defended the Syrian people, and we defended the interest of our country for years, and we will continue doing so.
"When Syrians are happy, we are happy. When Syrians are suffering, we are suffering," he said, pledging to continue working with the UN.