UAE, regional states condemn ‘attack’ on Emirati embassy in Damascus
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Saturday condemned the “attacks” that targeted its embassy and the residence of the head of its diplomatic mission in Damascus, as well as what it described as “unacceptable acts” against its national symbols, further urging Syrian authorities to fulfill their obligations to protect the embassy and its personnel.
In a statement carried by the Emirates News Agency (WAM), Abu Dhabi strongly condemned “the acts of rioting, attempted vandalism, and attacks targeting its embassy and the residence of the head of its mission in Damascus, Syria.”
The UAE further affirmed its “categorical rejection and condemnation of such acts,” describing them as “unacceptable,” including those “directed at its national symbols.”
WAM also reported that the Emirati foreign ministry denounced what it described as “destructive practices,” stressing the need to protect “diplomatic premises, missions, and their personnel in accordance with international laws and norms.”
The UAE urged Syria to “uphold its obligations to protect the embassy and its personnel,” and to “investigate the circumstances surrounding these attacks, prevent their recurrence, and take all necessary legal measures to hold the perpetrators accountable.”
The backdrop
The statement came a day after dozens gathered outside the Emirati embassy in Damascus on Friday, Reuters reported, citing an unnamed Syrian security official.
The official said the protesters had spilled over from a larger pro-Palestinian demonstration at nearby Umayyad Square and attempted to storm the embassy, adding that Syrian security forces contained the situation.
The protests were reportedly linked to a law passed by Israel’s parliament, the Knesset, on Monday, which makes death by hanging the default penalty for Palestinians convicted of “deadly attacks.”
The law has sparked international debate, as it applies differently based on the nature of the crime, specifying that it targets attacks aimed at “ending Israel’s existence.” Critics say this could result in the death penalty being applied to Palestinians but not to Israelis convicted of similar offenses.
In 2020, the UAE, along with Bahrain, Sudan, and Morocco, signed the Abraham Accords - a series of normalization agreements between Israel and several Arab countries brokered by the United States during President Donald Trump’s first term in office. The accords established formal ties in areas such as diplomacy, security, and trade.
The reactions
For his part, Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani on Saturday emphasized that Syria “takes pride in its strong brotherly relationship” with the UAE, which “is built on mutual respect and constructive cooperation.”
In a post of X, he affirmed that “any offense committed by a limited group of individuals does not represent the Syrian people or reflect their core values,” adding, “we strongly condemn all forms of misconduct or abuse.”
The attack on the Emirati diplomatic mission in Damascus also sparked a wave of reactions from the region and beyond.
US Special Envoy for Syria Tom Barrack said in a Sunday post on X that the partnership between Washington and Abu Dhabi “on all fronts remains of critical importance to the Middle East,” adding that “Syria’s bold reengagement with the region has been a defining chapter—one worth protecting.”
“We urge Damascus to safeguard all diplomatic missions and to continue the courageous work of reconciliation,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Saudi foreign ministry on the same day expressed its “condemnation and denunciation of the acts of rioting, attacks, and attempted vandalism targeting the headquarters of the embassy of the sisterly United Arab Emirates and the residence of its head of mission” in Damascus, “as well as the unacceptable insults” directed at the UAE’s national symbols.
In a statement, the ministry also affirmed Riyadh’s “rejection of these attacks,” stressing the need to “ensure the protection of diplomats and diplomatic missions in accordance with relevant laws and international conventions.”
Similar condemnations were issued by other Gulf Cooperation Council member states, including Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, and Qatar.
Moreover, Tel Aviv’s Foreign Ministry on Sunday expressed Israel’s condemnation of “the barbaric assault by pro-Palestinian demonstrators in Syria on the UAE Embassy and the residence of the Head of Mission.”
It added that “diplomatic premises must be protected in accordance with the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, and all those responsible for this attack must be held accountable.”