(MENAFN) France called on Israel on Sunday to uphold Syria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity following an Israeli cross-border attack that killed 13 civilians in the Damascus countryside.

The Israeli military targeted the town of Beit Jinn and the nearby road to Mazraat Beit Jinn on Friday, resulting in at least 13 deaths, including women and children, and leaving several others injured.

“France affirms the importance of preserving the unity of Syria and its sovereignty and stability in accordance with international law and the disengagement agreement between the Israeli and Syrian forces,” Jean-Baptiste Faivre, France’s charge d’affaires to Syria, said via social media platform X.

Faivre expressed concern over civilian casualties in the Israeli operations in Beit Jinn and urged “Israel to respect Syria's sovereignty and the integrity of its territories.” He also called on regional nations to “engage in ongoing efforts to enable Syria to become a center for peace, security, and stability for the benefit of the Syrian people and the entire region.”

According to Syrian government sources, Israel has conducted over 1,000 airstrikes and more than 400 cross-border raids into southern Syrian provinces since December 2024.

Following the fall of the Bashar al-Assad regime in late 2024, Israel reportedly expanded its control over the Golan Heights by occupying the demilitarized buffer zone, a move that violated the 1974 Disengagement Agreement with Syria.

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