Syrian President Vows to Thwart Attempts to Partition Country

The Syrian president on 17 July said his government rejects any attempt to partition the country and accused Israel of fomenting internal discord. In televised remarks carried by regional broadcasters, he warned that Damascus would not allow Syria to become a battleground for outside agendas or be drawn into new wars. He added that Israelis "use every method to create conflicts," but insisted that Syrians are united against plans to divide the nation. The president said Syria “is not a testing ground for conspiracies and ambitions,” underscoring that the government will resist efforts to destabilize the country.