A senior United Nations official has condemned the fatal shooting of a young Syrian civilian by Israeli forces in the southern province of Daraa. The incident took place on Thursday during an Israeli military incursion into the village of Jamla in western Daraa.
The victim was identified as Muath Salama al-Baeer. A relative said al-Baeer suffered from a hearing disability and could not hear or respond to orders from Israeli soldiers to stop.
Cordone issued a statement on X to address the killing and expressed condolences to the family.
"I deplore the killing of a young Syrian civilian with a disability by Israeli forces in Jamla, Deraa, in Syria," Cordone wrote.
"My deepest condolences to the family," he added. "Israel must fully respect Syria’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and international law."
The Israeli military offered an explanation for the shooting. Troops opened fire after a person approached them and failed to comply with warnings, according to the military, and officials said the incident is under review.
The fatal shooting occurred during a pattern of continued Israeli military incursions across southern Syria, with operations concentrated heavily in Daraa and Quneitra.
Local media reported earlier in the week that Israeli forces entered villages in Quneitra province. Troops raided a house and conducted military activities close to civilian areas.
Israel has expanded its military presence in southern Syria after the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s government in December 2024. This expansion includes the occupation of the UN-monitored buffer zone established under the 1974 disengagement agreement.
Damascus has condemned these incursions as direct violations of its national sovereignty and called for the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from all Syrian territory.
