HTS leader Ahmad al-Sharaa says Israel's advances in Syria unacceptable

Syria's interim leader Ahmad al-Sharaa has called Israel's advances on his country's territory unacceptable, though he denied there would be any conflict.
The Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) leader made the comments on Thursday as Israel continued to deepen its control of territory in southern Syria.
"We do not want war with Israel or any country. We told Israel to stop, and if it continues, we will apply pressure," Sharaa said.
"There is no excuse for occupation."
Syria's Golan Heights region has been occupied by Israel since the 1967 Middle East war and has built settlements across the territory in violation of international law.
New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch
Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters
Since the HTS-led assault that toppled President Bashar al-Assad's government in December, Israel has rapidly expanded its control across more Syrian territory for what it says are security reasons.
On the same day Assad fell, Israel deployed its troops across the 1974 UN-established armistice line and into the buffer zone patrolled by the United Nations.
Since assuming power in Syria, HTS has been keen not to antagonise Israel, which has carried out hundreds of air strikes on military sites and infrastructure across the country since Assad's departure.
However Sharaa, whose family originates from the Golan Heights, has been critical of Israel's attacks on the country when asked.
In his comments on Thursday, Sharaa also criticised the Kurdish-led People's Protection Units (YPG), saying they "alone" had not responded to their call to restrict weapons to the authorities.
He said the group was "exploiting" the ongoing fighting against the Islamic State group "to serve their own interests."
Middle East Eye delivers independent and unrivalled coverage and analysis of the Middle East, North Africa and beyond. To learn more about republishing this content and the associated fees, please fill out this form. More about MEE can be found here.