Secretary-General ‘Deeply Concerned’ over Breach of Disengagement of Forces Agreement between Israel and Syria, Calls for Maximum Restraint

The following statement was issued today by the Spokesman for UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon:

The Secretary-General is deeply concerned over the serious violations of the Disengagement of Forces Agreement between Israel and Syria.

Reportedly, rockets were fired yesterday across the ceasefire line into northern Israel, landing in the vicinity of Qiryat Shmona, in response to which the Israel Defense Forces fired across the ceasefire line, with projectiles impacting in the vicinity of Syrian Arab Armed Forces positions near Al Baath and Khan Arnabeh.  The United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) immediately liaised with the Israel Defense Forces and the Syrian Arab Armed Forces to de-escalate the situation, which is currently quiet.

The Secretary-General condemns all violations of the Disengagement of Forces Agreement and calls on all concerned to refrain from any action that jeopardizes the ceasefire between Israel and Syria and undermines the stability of the area.  The Secretary-General calls on all involved to exercise maximum restraint to prevent any further escalation in an already tense regional environment.