Syria Could Be Success Story World Needs, Security Council Hears as UN Officials Outline Strategies to Support Country’s Political, Economic Transition
Syria could be the success story the world needs, the Security Council heard today, as UN experts outlined how the international community can support that country’s political and economic transition.
Since the December 2024 ouster of former President Bashar al-Assad, a new Government has taken power in Syria and has begun a political transition. In November 2025, Council resolution 2799 (2025) removed Syria’s transitional President Ahmed al-Sharaa and transitional Minister for Interior Anas Hasan Khattab from the Sanctions List. However, armed clashes in Sweida in July 2025, as well as a dire humanitarian situation in the country have posed challenges.
Recalling his recent visit to a Syria on a “positive trajectory”, Tom Fletcher, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, highlighted the launch of a humanitarian needs and response plan for Syria on 2 April — “the first such plan launched inside Syria”.
The first quarter of 2026 saw $84 million disbursed from recently merged funds, and the UN is ensuring that women-led organizations are at the centre of decision-making, he said. In April alone, an additional $146 million from the United States has been allocated to 17 life-saving projects. However, this progress faces three major risks — external conflict across the region, persistently high internal needs and funding cuts.
Hyper-Prioritized $1.5 Billion in Humanitarian Aid Key to Prevent Reversal of Gains
He urged the Council to use its influence to “resolve the remaining flashpoints”; invest in Syria’s future with sustained and predictable support for recovery and development; and support vital humanitarian operations in the present. A “hyper-prioritized $1.5 billion” is “the absolute minimum needed to prevent a reversal of gains”, he underscored. “The world needs a success story right now, and Syria could be that story,” he said, if the Council can address the three risks outlined earlier.
Speaking from Damascus by video, Claudio Cordone, Deputy Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Syria, noted both progress in Syria’s stabilization, as well as economic, institutional and social pressures that challenge this fragile stability. Further, Israeli military activity in southern Syria continues in breach of existing agreements, he said, noting that Israeli forces have continued to conduct incursions into Syrian territory almost daily.
Efforts Under Way to Shield Syrians from Conflicts in Region; Sweida Road Map at Stalemate
The Syrian Government has been making efforts “to shield Syria from the conflicts raging in the region”, he said, noting the arrival of 300,000 people fleeing the fighting in Lebanon. In the north-east, there has been incremental progress on the implementation of the 29 January agreement between the Syrian Government and the Syrian Democratic Forces.
“By contrast, there was no progress on advancing the elements of the Sweida road map,” he said. Highlighting the findings of the Independent International Commission of Inquiry released last month and those of the Syrian National Commission of Investigation, he said: “Widespread and serious violations of international human rights and humanitarian law were committed by Government or Government-affiliated forces and other actors.” Intercommunal and sectarian incidents have also caused tensions in the Christian community leading to cancellations of religious celebrations.
Noting preparations to hold indirect elections for nine vacant seats in the People’s Assembly from three districts in Hasakeh Governorate, he looked forward to information on when the elections will be held, as well as the announcement of the 70 presidential appointees and the opening session of the Assembly. With over six months since initial voting took place, it is essential for the viability of the transition that a functioning and widely representative legislature is established as soon as possible.
Strong Willingness, Yet Challenges to Protect Children Affected by Conflict
Vanessa Frazier, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict, recalled her recent travels to Syria where the new Government authorities “signaled a strong openness and willingness to engage with the United Nations” on strengthening the protection of conflict-affected children. They are committed to the definition of a child as any human being under the age of 18, in line with the Convention on the Rights of the Child, she said, adding that they also expressed interest in signing the Paris Principles, the Safe School Declaration, Vancouver Principles and other international frameworks.
However, challenges are also immense, she said, noting the dramatic situation of children stranded in the Hawl and Rawj camps in north-eastern Syria, and the challenge of their reintegration. “Many of these children do not have an identity,” she said, and the absence of birth-registration systems in those areas have led, in some extreme instances, to statelessness. She advocated for the release of children held for their or their family members’ alleged association with Da’esh, adding: “These children should be treated primarily as victims.”
She also noted the widespread contamination of explosive remnants of war, which is a leading cause of casualties among children, as well as the high level of grave violations against children in Syria, including the killing and maiming of children, as well as recruitment and use of children. Her office is working with the Government of Syria on developing an action plan to end and prevent such violations.
Syria: Island of Calmness, Stability in Turbulent Region; Israel’s Actions to Undermine Hard-Won Progress Must Be Stopped
Syria is “an island of calmness in a turbulent environment”, due to his Government’s political will, that country’s delegate said. It has adopted a foreign policy based on good-neighbourliness and the promotion of shared interests. Domestically, he spotlighted the successful integration of the Syrian Democratic Forces into national configurations, renewed political life and efforts to rebuild infrastructure.
However, “one party — Israel — continues to pursue its aggressive and expansionist policies”, he added. It is planning to expand settlement activity in the occupied Syrian Golan, escalating attacks, deliberately targeting civilians, abducting Syrian children, spraying unknown chemicals on agricultural land, obstructing ambulances and using Syrian territory to launch attacks against Lebanon.
“It seems that Israel is intent on dragging Syria into the current regional escalation with the aim of undermining all the progress that we have all achieved,” he stressed, calling on the Council to respond. “The new Syria has honoured its commitments”, and has initiated a path to development and stability, he said, asking: “What, in turn, will the world do?”
Praise for Syria
“With continued US and UN support for the Syrian people and their Government, we believe that Syria will take its rightful place as an anchor of stability in a turbulent region,” the representative of the United States said. She commended its Government for its partnership against Da’esh, and for working to prevent destabilizing activities by Hizbullah. “At a moment of turmoil across much of the region, Syria’s story stands apart,” she said.
The representative of the United Kingdom spotlighted the Syrian President’s visit to London on 31 March, and welcomed the newly established “Breath of Freedom” taskforce — which will work on the destruction of chemical-weapons stockpiles in Syria. His country announced over $9.5 million of additional funding “in direct support of Syrian-led destruction activity”.
Concern over Sectarian Tensions, Attacks on Syrian Minorities
Denmark’s representative said that durable progress in Syria depends not only on stability, but also on “continued and meaningful advances in the political transition”. While the process of peacefully reintegrating northern Syria is advancing, she said that recent unrest in Qamishli and Aleppo “illustrates the communal tensions that could undermine the process if left unaddressed”. Greece’s delegate expressed concern about the latest incidents in the predominantly Greek Orthodox city of Suqailabiya. “This is the second case of violence against the Greek Orthodox community, following last year’s terrorist attack on the Greek Orthodox Church of Mar Elias,” she said.
The representative of the Russian Federation cautioned that “the enduring vulnerability of minorities in Syria will play into the hands of Israel”, which will exploit any pretext including the situation of Syrian Druze. “Political dialogue should be a continuous process," China’s representative emphasized, as he pointed to “acute” tribal tensions in the Sweida region and “particularly worrying” reports of new sectarian conflicts in the Governorate of Hama. He also called on the Government to combat all Council-designated terrorist organizations, including the Eastern Turkistan Islamic Movement.
Delegates Condemn Israel’s Repeated Aggressions, Urge Full Respect for Syria’s Sovereignty
Pakistan’s delegate stressed the need for a “comprehensive approach” — anchored in full respect for Syria’s sovereignty, supported by inclusive political progress and reinforced by humanitarian and economic measures. The continued Israeli violations of Syria’s sovereignty undermine Government efforts towards stability, he pointed out.
Egypt’s delegate, who spoke for the Arab Group, also stressed the necessity of preserving Syria’s territorial integrity and condemned the repeated Israeli aggressions. The representative of Türkiye, noting the recent ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, stressed that Israel must also refrain from escalatory actions in Syria and must withdraw from the areas it has occupied in that country since 8 December 2024.
Panama’s delegate noted that Syria’s respect for the 1974 Disengagement of Forces Agreement in the Syrian Golan is a significant contribution to stability on the ground. Latvia’s delegate commended “the political restraint that Syria has demonstrated” despite continued Israel Defense Forces incursions and violations of that Agreement. Syria is making every effort to insulate itself from the destabilizing effects of the wider regional conflict, she said.
Calls to Prioritize Humanitarian Needs, Recovery, Development, Protection of Children
“As the situation remains ‘unstable’ — that is a euphemism — in the Middle East,” the representative of France, joined others in welcoming Syria’s restraint. He called on the international community to mobilize the necessary resources for Syria’s humanitarian needs, recovery and development.
The representative of Somalia, also speaking for the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Liberia, stressed that economic recovery and the restoration of critical infrastructure “are indispensable foundations for sustainable peace”, while Colombia’s delegate added that Syrian children “should also be placed at the very centre of recovery and reconstruction efforts”. Bahrain’s delegate, Council President for April, speaking in his national capacity, commended the Syrian Government’s commitment to enhance child protection and said that providing a safe environment for children is an essential pillar for building a stable, prosperous Syria.