UN envoy condemns Israeli strike on Syria, US calls for 'de-escalation'

UN envoy condemns Israeli strike on Syria, US calls for 'de-escalation' The UN deputy special envoy for Syria, Claudio Cordone, condemned an Israeli air strike on Syria's Abu al-Duhur airbase and expressed concern about "statements from senior Israeli officials advocating an open-ended Israeli military presence on Syrian territory". Speaking to the UN Security Council, Cordone said that Israel's occupation violates Syria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and is inconsistent with the 1974 Disengagement of Forces Agreement. Meanwhile, US Depute Representative Tammy Bruce called for Israel and Syria to pursue "de-escalation" and said Washington "will continue to engage closely with both countries and with all regional stakeholders to promote dialogue and peaceful solutions" in comments made to the UN Security Council.