Syria has condemned a visit by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and senior officials to the country’s south, calling it a blatant violation of its sovereignty. The delegation toured troops stationed in territories Israel has occupied since the collapse of former President Bashar al-Assad’s regime late last year.

“My government strongly condemns this provocative tour, which epitomises Israel’s ongoing aggression against Syria and its people,” said Ibrahim Olabi, Syria’s ambassador to the United Nations, speaking before the UN Security Council on Wednesday. He urged the international body to enforce existing resolutions, particularly the 1974 disengagement agreement that followed the Arab-Israeli War of 1973.

Israel has long maintained a presence in the UN-monitored buffer zone in the Golan Heights. Since al-Assad’s overthrow, the country has expanded its control, carrying out air strikes, ground operations, reconnaissance missions, checkpoints, and arrests of Syrian citizens, while Syria has largely refrained from retaliation.

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UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric described Netanyahu’s “very public visit” as “concerning, to say the least,” highlighting Resolution 2799, which reaffirms Syria’s sovereignty, unity, independence, and territorial integrity.

During the Security Council session, Israel’s ambassador Danny Danon sidestepped direct questions about the visit, instead pressing Syria to curb extremism and protect religious minorities. Olabi responded sharply: “The proving, Mr. Ambassador, tends to be on your shoulders. You have struck Syria more than 1,000 times, and we have responded with requests for diplomacy … and zero signs of aggression toward Israel.”

The Israeli delegation included Foreign Minister Gideon Saar, Defence Minister Israel Katz, army Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir, and Shin Bet chief David Zini. Syria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs called the trip “a serious violation of Syria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.”

Tensions have escalated further this month, as Israel renewed incursions into southern Syria, establishing a checkpoint in the Quneitra province. Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa reported that since al-Assad’s fall, Israel has carried out over 1,000 air strikes and 400 ground operations, warning that the situation remains “very dangerous.”

Despite the hostility, negotiations continue behind the scenes. Analysts say Syria and Israel are working toward a security agreement, potentially finalised before year’s end. As Al Jazeera’s Gabriel Elizondo noted from the UN, the latest exchanges underscore the deep mistrust between the two nations and highlight how Netanyahu’s actions continue to provoke Damascus.