Peaceful, Inclusive Political Transition in Syria at Risk in Wake of Deadly Sectarian Violence, Israeli Air Strikes, Assistant Secretary-General Warns Security Council
Detailing another episode of sectarian violence in Syria — and the Israeli airstrikes that followed in its wake — a senior United Nations official told the Security Council today that the peaceful, credible, orderly and inclusive political transition Syria so desperately needs is at risk.
Khaled Khiari, Assistant Secretary-General for the Middle East, Asia and the Pacific, reported that, on 12 July, a series of kidnappings in the Druze-majority governorate of Suweida escalated into armed clashes between Bedouin tribes and local Druze armed groups. On 14 July, the Syrian authorities started deploying security forces with the stated aim of halting the clashes, restoring order and bringing those responsible to justice. Druze armed groups reportedly killed and abducted some of these security forces, and there were also reports of such forces carrying out violations against civilians as they entered Suweida.
“The ensuing fighting resulted in hundreds of casualties among the Damascus security forces and Druze fighters,” he reported, also noting that hundreds were injured. Further, footage of corpse mutilation, sectarian incitement and looting were widely circulated on social and conventional media, causing additional trauma and intercommunal tension. He said that, according to the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, “civilians caught up in ongoing violence continued to face serious risks, with significant displacement and reports of damage to critical infrastructure, including water, electricity and telecommunications networks”.
He therefore reiterated the Secretary-General’s “unequivocal” condemnation of all violence against civilians — including “all acts that fan the flames of sectarian tensions and rob the people of Syria of their opportunity for peace and reconciliation after 14 years of brutal conflict”. He also acknowledged the Syrian authorities’ statement condemning these violations and committing to investigate and hold accountable those responsible. He urged them to ensure such investigation is transparent, in line with international standards and completed quickly — “not least to instil confidence among all Syrians that their State will guarantee protection and justice for all citizens without distinction”.
“Against this complicated and volatile backdrop — citing the violations against the Druze community and pledging to protect them — between 12 and 16 July Israel resumed and intensified its airstrikes on Syrian territory,” he went on to report. Echoing the Secretary-General’s condemnation of the same, he said that these actions “undermine efforts to build a new Syria at peace with itself and the region and further destabilize Syria at a sensitive time”. Both Israel and Syria must uphold the terms of the 1974 Disengagement of Forces Agreement, and he also urged all Syrian stakeholders to commit to dialogue.
He underscored: “Security and stability in Suweida — and, indeed, in post-Assad Syria — can only be achieved through genuine reconciliation and with the participation of all components of Syria’s diverse society.”
Support for Inclusive, Syrian-Led Reform, Recovery, Reconciliation
In the ensuing discussion, the representative of Sierra Leone, also speaking for Algeria, Guyana and Somalia, agreed: “A Syria built by all Syrians, and for all Syrians — without exclusion — is the only path to durable peace.” Underlining the authorities’ responsibility to protect all Syrians, he called for a thorough investigation into the recent violence. Also calling for that was Giorgos Gerapetritis, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Greece, who underscored the need “for all Syrians to feel safe at home”. Additionally, he — like many other Council members — urged respect for the 1974 Disengagement of Forces Agreement.
Among them was Slovenia’s representative, who condemned recent Israeli attacks on Syrian territory and emphasized: “After the much-needed end to the war in Syria, the Syrian people need time, space and peace to recover, rebuild and reconcile.” Similarly, Panama’s representative — rejecting all military actions that undermine the territorial integrity or sovereignty of a State — said: “Syria’s destiny at this crucial juncture is a litmus test for the international community, and of whether or not it harbours genuine will to buttress an effective rules-based order after more than a decade of conflict.”
Speakers Condemn Israel’s Attacks on Syria
“Syria needs space — it needs support for reform and recovery,” said the representative of Pakistan, Council President for July, as he spoke in his national capacity. He stressed: “Israel’s actions are not only unlawful, but ultimately self-defeating as they breed the very instability they claim to resist.” The representatives of the United Kingdom and Denmark also voiced concern over Israel’s escalatory strikes, with the latter adding that — although “Syria has come a long way since the fall of the Assad regime” — there can be “no meaningful recovery without genuine safety and protection for all Syrians”.
“Syria has always been the home for many peoples and religions, and this is its strength and historic significance,” observed the representative of the Russian Federation. However, recent violence risks marginalizing “a whole strata of Syrian society” and, as was the case in Iraq, creates the conditions for a “radicalist revanche”, he stressed. And, pointing to Israel’s repeated arbitrary actions in Syria — “we condemned them then, and condemn them now” — he emphasized that supporting Syria’s sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity is “not just a diplomatic formula”. Rather, he said that “this is a foundation of the future peaceful structure of the country”.
China’s representative also “unequivocally” condemned Israel’s attacks on Syrian territory, which create new complications for achieving peace, stability and political transition in the latter. He therefore urged Israel to cease such actions and withdraw from Syrian territory. “While the United States did not support recent Israeli strikes, we are engaging diplomatically with Israel and Syria at the highest levels both to address the present crisis and reach a lasting agreement between two sovereign States,” said the representative of the United States.
Protection of Specific Sect Does Not Justify Aggression
“All hostilities violating Syria’s territorial sovereignty must stop,” stressed the representative of the Republic of Korea. “The protection of a specific sect is not a justifiable cause for violating the principle of non-aggression,” he underscored — “especially when the Administration in charge of civilians has intervened”. Calling on Israel to immediately cease any further intrusion, and on Damascus to take all necessary measures to prevent sectarian conflict, he underscored that “repeated sectarian violence has shown that a fragmented Syria is subject to turmoil and even risks illegitimate foreign intervention”.
The Council therefore has two duties, stressed France’s representative. First, the organ must help Syria build an inclusive, impartial State that has a monopoly on the use of force. Second, it must send to countries in the region — “starting with Israel”, he stressed — an appeal to refrain from using force against their neighbour. This will allow the seizing of a historic opportunity — “a Syria wanting peace with its neighbours” — and he urged the Council to “draw conclusions, together with the Secretariat, to best organize the support of the UN towards Syria”.
Israel’s Systematic Policy of Undermining Syria
For his part, the representative of Syria said that Israel’s repeated airstrikes on his country have killed and injured civilians and military personnel and seriously damaged Government facilities. These attacks peaked on 16 July, when Israeli drones and airplanes targeted several official buildings in the heart of Damascus during rush hour, along with facilities in the governorates of Suweida and Daraa. Condemning them, he said: “Syria categorically rejects the pretext used by Israeli authorities to justify these acts of aggression.” Rather, he stressed that this is “merely an extension” of Israel’s systematic policy of “undermining Syria and dragging it into conflict”.
“To add insult to injury, these Israeli attacks directly aim at obstructing the efforts of the Syrian State to restore security and stability and to contain internal tensions through a national approach,” he underscored. Nevertheless, he said that Syria will pursue “relentless” efforts to enforce the rule of law across the country and ensure that weapons remain solely in the hands of the State. Stressing that “Syria poses no threat to any country in or outside the region”, he added: “Only the Syrians are concerned with — and capable of — addressing their internal challenges.”
Moral Obligation to Safeguard Druze Population
Israel’s representative, meanwhile, said that “a serious crisis has been unfolding in Syria over the last couple of months that too many choose to ignore” — the systematic persecution of minorities. “But, unsurprisingly, that is not why the relevant Council members called for this emergency session today,” he said — “instead, they convened this meeting in a politically motivated move to condemn the State of Israel”. Pointing to a pattern of targeted violence against Syria’s most-vulnerable communities, he quoted God’s order in the Book of Leviticus: “You shall not stand idly by the bloodshed of your fellow.”
“For this very reason, Israel carried out these precise strikes against jihadist militants in southern Syria,” he said, underlining Israel’s commitment to preserve south-west Syria as a demilitarized area and to prevent the rise of terrorist threats along the border. “But we also have an unwavering moral obligation to safeguard the Druze population, with whom we share deep historic and national bonds,” he said. While Israel does not seek to involve itself in Syria’s internal politics, he underlined his country’s commitment to “maintain regional stability on our northern border” and protect “the lives and dignity of the Druze people in Syria”.
Regional States Stand in Solidarity with Syria
As other States in the region took the floor, Saudi Arabia’s representative said “we stand by Syria” as he rejected “any action that undermines civil and societal peace”. The Council, for its part, must take a clear, decisive stance against repeated Israeli violations of Syrian territory. Iran’s representative stated that Israel’s attacks on Syria — which followed its 12-day military aggression against his country — are “a direct result of this Council’s silence and the international community’s failure to act”.
Tunisia’s representative, speaking for the Arab Group, affirmed that Syria’s security and stability are “an integral part of the regional and international security system” and that preserving its sovereignty and territorial integrity is a “non-negotiable Arab and international commitment”. The representative of Türkiye highlighted the “remarkable” progress that Syria has made over the past seven months, pointing to its commitment to an inclusive political transition and national reconciliation. He added that his country has supported Syria’s efforts for peace, recovery and reconstruction “from the beginning”.
“Jordan will do everything in its power to help Syria build a better future for all the Syrian people,” said the former’s representative, adding: “We want to see Syria get back on its feet to recover. We want to see it turn the page on destruction, death and displacement — a page which has caused so much suffering for Syria and its people for so many years.”