Syrian Ambassador to the UN: Houthi Presence on Our Territory is “A Figment of the Imagination”
Yemen Monitor / Damascus / Exclusive:
The Syrian government today, Friday, categorically denied Israeli claims alleging the presence of Houthi fighters inside Syrian territory who are planning to launch a ground invasion of northern “Israel.”
Syria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ibrahim Al-Olabi, described the Israeli intelligence reports on the matter as “a figment of the imagination” and an attempt to invent new pretexts to justify aggression.
In statements to Al Hadath Channel, monitored by Yemen Monitor, the Syrian Ambassador commented on reports circulated by Hebrew media quoting the Israeli Defense Minister in a closed session, who claimed the presence of “Houthis” inside Syria threatening a ground invasion. Al-Olabi asserted that these statements fall within the context of the “flimsy excuses” Tel Aviv has consistently offered.
The Syrian diplomat pointed to the contradiction in the Israeli narrative, explaining that when Israel previously spoke about Iranian or Hezbollah risks, Syrian forces conducted liberation operations in those areas, confirming they are free of any external parties threatening neighboring countries.
He added: “The Syrian government is responsible for its territories and has repeatedly affirmed that it will not be a source of harm to any country in the region or the world.”
The Ambassador considered that “Israel’s” resort to naming new groups every day, such as the Houthis, reflects its exhaustion of political and security arguments before the international community, stressing that the Syrian state has established its security and military control.
Regarding the lack of direct military response to repeated Israeli attacks, the Ambassador explained that Damascus is deliberately exercising “self-restraint” despite its ability to defend itself. This is intended to block the path of extremist currents within the Israeli government seeking to expand the scope of the conflict, preferring instead to use diplomatic and political pressure to achieve strategic gains and isolate the Israeli position internationally.
These statements come amid rising regional tension and the linkage of fronts within what is known as the “unity of the arenas.”
Recent Hebrew and Western reports had claimed that Houthi elements were transferring from Yemen to Syria via Jordan or Iraq to be stationed near the occupied Golan Heights, which raises fears in Tel Aviv of opening a new ground front, especially as the Houthis continue to target “Eilat” and the depth of the occupied territories with missiles and drones launched from Yemen.
