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On June 29, 2026, GCC Secretary General Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi condemned Israeli occupation forces for shelling Syrian territories in Quneitra and Daraa with artillery, describing the incursions as violations of Syrian sovereignty, international law and the UN Charter that amount to a dangerous escalation heightening regional tensions. In a statement issued that day, he reiterated the GCC’s solidarity with the Syrian Arab Republic and its emphasis on respecting the country’s stability and territorial integrity while rejecting any such breaches.
The statement released on the GCC website listed the targeting of Quneitra and Daraa with artillery shells as clear examples of the incursions by Israeli forces. It noted that these actions not only infringe upon Syrian sovereignty but also contravene established principles of international law and the UN Charter. The GCC assessment further positioned the strikes as a serious threat that could undermine broader peace efforts across the Middle East.
According to the statement, the GCC continues to stand in full solidarity with Syria as a sisterly state and stresses the imperative of preserving its sovereignty, stability and territorial integrity. Albudaiwi’s message rejected all violations directed against Syrian land and called for adherence to international norms in addressing the situation. This latest position builds directly on the Secretary General’s prior condemnations of similar incidents.
A statement issued by the GCC in March 2025 had likewise denounced repeated Israeli attacks on Syrian territory, including the occupation of buffer zones and settlement expansion in the Golan Heights, which it described as Syrian Arab land. That earlier text, published on the GCC website, urged Israel to withdraw from all occupied Syrian territories in line with UN Security Council resolutions. It also affirmed that Syria’s security and stability serve as fundamental pillars for security across the region.
The GCC, formed by Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, has upheld consistent support for Syrian sovereignty since Damascus rejoined the Arab League in 2023. Regional diplomatic records indicate a subsequent rise in high-level engagements between GCC officials and Syrian counterparts focused on economic and security cooperation. Albudaiwi has repeatedly highlighted the rejection of foreign interference and extremism in this context.
Arab states at the United Nations have issued parallel condemnations of the Israeli incursions, characterizing them as flagrant violations of Syrian sovereignty and territorial integrity that endanger regional peace and security. Arab News reported that the group demanded Israel’s full compliance with the 1974 disengagement agreement along with an immediate and unconditional withdrawal from areas of recent advance inside Syria. The briefings further called for an end to all repeated violations in the Golan and adjacent zones.
The Arab Parliament, during its eighth conference at Arab League headquarters in Cairo, condemned the repeated Israeli attacks on Syria and reaffirmed support for its territorial integrity, according to the Syrian Arab News Agency. The conference communique identified the protection of Arab states’ sovereignty, security and stability as a core priority amid various regional pressures. This collective stance aligns with the GCC’s June 29 statement on the latest shelling incidents.
