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."
Syria condemns Colombia's recognition of Israeli sovereignty over Golan Heights
At least seven vessels passed through the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday, according to the latest tracking data from the maritime information platform MarineTraffic cited by CNN, while separate incidents of violence were reported in surrounding Middle East waters the same day.
Also, on Tuesday, the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said that U.S. forces in the Gulf of Oman disabled the steering capability of a Panama-flagged cargo vessel sailing toward Iran. CENTCOM said the ship has violated the U.S. blockade against Iran and that a U.S. navy helicopter fired two missiles at the vessel. The command said the ship has stopped sailing toward Iran and reiterated that U.S. forces are continuing to enforce a blockade on Iran.
In a separate alert, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) on Tuesday reported an incident involving a container ship in the Gulf of Oman. UKMTO said the vessel came under attack, with the crew issuing an emergency call for assistance and preparing to abandon ship. A message broadcast over a public maritime radio channel said there were 17 people on board and placed the incident near the eastern edge of the Gulf of Oman.
On the same day, UKMTO also issued another incident report, saying a cargo ship in the southern Red Sea was hit by an unknown projectile, resulting in casualties.
Yemen's Houthis said Tuesday that it attacked a Saudi military equipment transport ship in the Bab al-Mandab Strait. Yemen's coast guard, however, said the target was a commercial ship and that the attack killed six people and injured 10.
At least 7 vessels transit Strait of Hormuz Tuesday: U.S. media
