DAMASCUS, Aug. 11 (Xinhua) -- Syria on Tuesday strongly condemned Colombia's recognition of Israeli sovereignty over the occupied Golan Heights, calling the move a violation of international law and relevant United Nations resolutions.
In a statement, Syria's foreign affairs authority said it "categorically rejects and condemns" the position announced by the Colombian Foreign Ministry on Monday, which recognized Israeli sovereignty over the territory on security grounds.
The authority reaffirmed that the Golan Heights is an inseparable part of Syrian territory. It also reiterated its rejection of Israeli military attacks and incursions into Syrian territory.
Colombia announced Monday that it recognized Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights, saying Israel's control of the strategic territory was important to its security and its ability to protect its citizens.
The decision makes Colombia the second country after the United States to recognize Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights. The United States formally recognized Israeli sovereignty over the territory in 2019.
Israel captured most of the Golan Heights from Syria during the 1967 Middle East war and extended its laws and administration to the territory in 1981, a move not recognized by most of the international community. UN Security Council Resolution 497 declared the Israeli move "null and void and without international legal effect." ■
