Gulf states condemn Israel's Syria strikes and Golan settlement plans

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday that he held talks with United States President-elect Donald Trump, focusing on Syria and other key regional issues.

During their conversation, Netanyahu pointed to shifts in the Middle East, claiming that Israeli operations in Lebanon, Gaza, Yemen and Syria have diminished Iran's influence over the past year.

The Israeli Prime Minister maintained that Israel has no interest in confronting Syria directly, but said future policy would be guided by the evolving reality on the ground.

Within a few days, we destroyed capabilities that the Assad regime had built over decades, Netanyahu noted, referring to a series of intense Israeli airstrikes in the past few days following the collapse of the Assad government in Syria on December 8.

He reiterated that the strikes aimed to prevent weapons from being used against Israel or transferred from Syria to Hezbollah.

Israeli warplanes launched multiple airstrikes late on Sunday, targeting former military arsenals across Syria, according to a war monitor. The latest raids hit missile bases in Battalion 107 near Zama and weapons warehouses in rural Tartus.

Earlier in the evening, an Israeli jet reportedly struck radar installations at the Deir al-Zour Military Airport in eastern Syria. Earlier on Sunday, Israeli aircraft targeted former munitions depots dug into mountains in Rural Damascus, causing a series of powerful explosions. There were no reports of casualties.

Gulf countries denounce Israel

Aside from airstrikes on military arsenals, Israel is also attempting to expand settlements in the Golan Heights amid Syrian turbulence. The Israeli government approved a plan on Sunday to expand settlements in the Golan Heights, a Syrian territory currently occupied by Israel, according to a statement from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office.

The plan aims to double the Israeli population in the Golan Heights, including the establishment of a student village, a development program to integrate new residents, and initiatives to strengthen the education system and renewable energy infrastructure.

The plan has drawn criticism from Gulf countries, including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Qatar.

The Saudi Foreign Ministry stated that the decision is a continuation of efforts to sabotage Syria's chances of restoring its security and stability. The ministry emphasized the need to respect Syria's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The UAE warned that the Israeli actions could exacerbate tensions in the region, according to a statement from its Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

"The UAE categorically rejects all measures and practices aimed at altering the legal status of the occupied Golan Heights," the statement said, stressing that expanding Israeli settlements in the Golan Heights poses a direct threat to the security, stability and sovereignty of Syria.

Qatar's Foreign Ministry called the decision "a new episode in a series of Israeli aggression on Syrian territories and a blatant violation of international law."

It called on the international community to fulfill its legal and moral responsibilities by compelling Israel to halt its aggression on Syrian territories and adhere to international legitimacy. The statement also reiterated Qatar's unwavering support for Syria's sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity.

(With input from Xinhua)