Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani has urged members of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to step up international pressure on Israel to end its military operations in Syria, withdraw its forces to positions held before 8 December 2024, and restore the terms of the 1974 Disengagement Agreement.
Speaking at the 52nd session of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers in Baghdad, Shibani called for the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) to be given the means to carry out its mandate in full and ensure compliance with the agreement.
He accused Israel of conducting repeated incursions into Syrian territory since the fall of the Assad regime on 8 December 2024, damaging civilian infrastructure, advancing into areas of southern Syria and arbitrarily detaining dozens of Syrians whose whereabouts remain unknown.
Turning to the occupied Golan Heights, Shibani reaffirmed Syria’s sovereignty over the territory, declaring that it remained “an integral part of Syria, and any Israeli decision to annex it is merely ink on paper.” He cited UN Security Council Resolution 497, which declared Israel’s 1981 annexation measures null and void.
The minister also accused Israel of supplying weapons and financial assistance to outlawed groups in Suwayda province, alleging that the support was intended to foment instability and weaken the authority of the Syrian state.
Shibani urged OIC members to include an explicit condemnation of Israeli incursions in the summit’s final Baghdad Declaration, alongside a renewed commitment to the 1974 disengagement arrangements. He expressed confidence that Iraq, as host and chair of the meeting, would ensure these demands were reflected in the final document.
Syria’s Diplomatic Reintegration
Shibani highlighted Syria’s return to regional diplomacy following the restoration of its OIC membership on 7 March 2025.
He reaffirmed Damascus’s commitment to playing an active role in the organisation, strengthening multilateral cooperation and safeguarding national sovereignty. He pointed to domestic political developments, including national dialogue, the constitutional declaration and parliamentary elections, as well as Syria’s participation in the Global Coalition against ISIS.
The foreign minister thanked OIC member states for their support of resolutions concerning Syria, the humanitarian crisis and the occupied Golan Heights. He also welcomed the decision to waive financial contributions accumulated during Syria’s suspension from the organisation.
Shibani announced Syria’s accession to several OIC agreements, including the Convention on Combating International Terrorism, the Mecca Agreement on Combating Corruption and the Police Cooperation Statute.
He said these agreements would strengthen efforts to combat terrorism, trace looted public funds and recover assets linked to figures from the former regime.
He also called on the Islamic Development Bank to expand its support for early recovery and reconstruction projects undertaken in coordination with the Syrian government.
Refugee Returns and Camp Closures
Turning to the humanitarian situation, Shibani said official figures showed that approximately 3.8 million displaced Syrians had returned to their places of origin since 8 December 2024.
According to the figures he presented, more than 1.8 million refugees had returned from neighbouring countries and elsewhere, while over two million internally displaced people had returned to their home communities.
He thanked countries that had hosted Syrian refugees, including Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, Lebanon, Iraq and Egypt, acknowledging their support during years of conflict and displacement.
Shibani said the government’s Syria Without Camps initiative had already led to the closure of more than 200 camps for internally displaced people.
He added that Decree No. 59 of 2026 had established a supervisory committee to assist the approximately 141,000 displaced families still living in camps. The government aims to close all remaining camps by September 2027.
Regional Security and the Palestinian Question
On regional affairs, Shibani reiterated Syria’s support for the Palestinian people, calling for an immediate end to military operations in Gaza, unhindered humanitarian access, an end to forced displacement and the start of reconstruction.
He also condemned Colombia’s decision to open an embassy in Jerusalem three days earlier, describing the move as a violation of the city’s historical and legal status.
Addressing security in the Arabian Gulf, Shibani stressed that Syria regarded the security of Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states as closely linked to its own national security.
He condemned Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia, including strikes targeting Abha Airport and King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, describing attacks on civilian infrastructure as violations of international law.
The minister reaffirmed Syria’s support for Saudi Arabia through diplomatic and legal channels and expressed backing for Yemen’s internationally recognised government in its efforts to restore state authority throughout the country.
Bilateral Talks in Baghdad
On the sidelines of the meeting, Shibani held separate talks with Iraqi President Nizar Mohammad Saeed Amedi and Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty.
The discussions focused on economic cooperation, security coordination and border management.
During his meeting with the Iraqi president, Shibani conveyed an official invitation from Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa to visit Damascus.
The 52nd OIC Council of Foreign Ministers meeting marks the first time Iraq has hosted the gathering since 1981.
This article was translated and edited by The Syrian Observer. The Syrian Observer has not verified the content of this story. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author.
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