UN officials brief Security Council on Syria transition amid northeast deal and renewed violence

Senior UN officers instructed the Safety Council on Friday that Syria’s fragile political transition has gained momentum following a landmark settlement between Damascus and Kurdish authorities within the northeast. Nonetheless, they warned that renewed violence within the south, Israeli incursions, and deep humanitarian wants proceed to underscore the precarious path to stability.

Briefing for the primary time as Deputy Particular Envoy for Syria, Claudio Cordone highlighted a ceasefire and “integration” settlement reached between the Syrian transitional authorities and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in late January. Cordone stated hostilities had ended and that implementation work was progressing, together with reported deployments of Inside Ministry forces in Al-Hasakeh and Qamishli, alongside discussions on native governance and political appointments.

UN reporting indicated the settlement consists of provisions on the return of displaced folks and the safety of Kurdish civil and academic rights, constructing on Presidential Decree 13 addressing linguistic, cultural, and citizenship rights.

The transition briefing additionally raised considerations about detention and accountability. In remarks delivered to the Safety Council, Cordone stated the UN is monitoring transfers of Syrian and non-Syrian alleged ISIL (Da’esh) suspects to Iraq and confused that any proceedings should respect truthful trial requirements, whereas urging states to repatriate their nationals.

UN officers warned that relative stabilization within the northeast has not prevented renewed volatility elsewhere. In Sweida, renewed clashes between authorities forces and native armed teams reportedly brought about materials injury and electrical energy outages, and protests calling for self-determination resurfaced, prompting UN requires confidence-building measures inside full respect of Syria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

In southern Syria, UN officers cited continued Israeli incursions and search operations, together with experiences of aerial herbicide spraying that broken crops. They known as for respect for worldwide regulation and withdrawal from areas the UN describes as occupied in violation of the 1974 Disengagement of Forces Settlement.

Humanitarian officers emphasised that insecurity is compounding acute civilian want. OCHA reported that latest clashes displaced tens of 1000’s and that about 130,000 folks stay displaced throughout Al-Hasakeh, Ar-Raqqa, and Aleppo governorates, with greater than 90 p.c described as girls and women. UN officers additionally reported flooding in Idleb and northern Latakia that killed two kids and broken or destroyed roughly 2,000 tents, affecting over 5,000 displaced folks.

The following political milestone, Cordone stated, is the formation of the Individuals’s Meeting, with extra seats nonetheless to be stuffed and additional presidential appointments pending. He confused that significant illustration, rights safety, missing-persons work, and transitional justice stay central to a reputable transition.

Earlier protection has tracked the deteriorating safety scenario in northeast Syria, together with UN considerations about renewed clashes and detention facility instability. UN raises alarm over renewed clashes and jail breaks in northeast Syria, in addition to UN reactions to the ceasefire framework. Broader Safety Council warnings late final 12 months emphasised that restoration remained fragile in Syria amid appreciable progress.