UNITED NATIONS, December 11. /TASS/. The United Nations calls upon all countries in the region to refrain from any actions that violate Syria’s territorial integrity, UN Secretary-General’s Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said.

"This is a turning point for Syria. It should not be used by its neighbors to encroach on the territory of Syria," he said. "We stand against any violation of the territorial integrity of Syria."

In his opinion, all those in the region and beyond should focus on supporting the Syrian people so that they can choose their own path.

On December 8, Israel took control of the Syrian side of Mount Hermon in the Golan Heights, encountering no resistance. According to Netanyahu, the 1974 separation of forces agreement with Syria is no longer valid because Syrian troops left the area after the change of power in Damascus.

The Golan Heights belonged to Syria since 1944 but were seized by Israel after the Six-Day War in 1967. During the Yom Kippur War in 1973, Syria tried to regain control over the area but failed. In 1981, Israel’s Knesset (parliament) passed a law proclaiming Israel’s sovereignty over this territory. However, United Nations Security Council Resolution 497 dated December 17, 1981 recognized the annexation as invalid.