AMMAN, May 2 (Xinhua) -- Jordan on Friday strongly condemned an earlier Israeli strike near the presidential palace in Syria's capital Damascus, as well as Israel's continued assaults on Syria's territory.
The strike near the presidential palace blatantly violates international law, clearly infringes on Syria's sovereignty and territorial integrity, and fuels regional tension, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Sufian Qudah said in a statement.
He added that Israel's continued attacks on Syria represented a clear violation of the Agreement on Disengagement between Israel and Syria signed in 1974, and a direct attack on the sovereignty of an Arab state.
He reaffirmed Jordan's full support for and solidarity with Syria, and urged the international community to compel Israel to cease its "provocative and illegal aggressions" against Syria and to end its occupation of parts of Syria's territory.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz confirmed in a joint statement earlier in the day that Israel attacked overnight near the presidential palace in Damascus.
The strike followed the deadly clashes that intensified earlier this week between local Druze fighters and pro-government forces south of Damascus, which, according to the war monitor Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, have claimed over 100 lives.
The Israeli statement called the strike "a clear message to the Syrian regime," saying that Israel "will not allow the move of forces south of Damascus and any danger to the Druze community."
In response, the office of the Syrian leader strongly condemned the strike, noting that Syria will defend the rights of its people "through all available means." ■
