UN: We call for an immediate cessation of hostilities in Syria
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for an immediate cessation of hostilities in north-west Syria and the return to the UN-led political process in line with the UNSCR 2254, expressing his concerns over the military escalation in the region.
This came in a statement by the UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric. Guterres reminded the parties of their commitments under international law, including the humanitarian international law.
Dujarric said: “The offensive launched by the Syrian opposition factions altered the confrontation’s lines that have been frozen since 2020, pointing out to reports about civilian casualties, the displacement of dozens of thousands of people, inflicting damage to civilian infrastructure, and disrupting the main services and humanitarian relief.”
Dujarric confirmed the need for all parties to protect the civilians and civilian objects, including allowing the passage of civilians fleeing the fighting.
Dujarric made it clear that the Syrians “deserve a political horizon that provides a future characterized by peace, not bloodshed,” stressing “the urgent need for the parties to seriously engage with the Special Envoy to Syria in order to chart a comprehensive path out of the conflict, in accordance with Security Council Resolution 2254.”
Dujarric pointed out that relief operations in parts of Aleppo, Idleb and Hama have been largely halted due to security concerns, pointing out that “humanitarian workers are unable to access relief facilities, including warehouses, which has hampered people’s capability to get life-saving assistance.”
Dujarric stated that the United Nations is committed to staying and doing its job and is working to conduct assessments and expand the humanitarian response as soon as possible, explaining that “humanitarian efforts in other places are continuing and have not been affected by the ongoing fighting, including assistance to newly displaced people in parts of northwestern Syria.”
On 27 November 2024, the Military Operations Department launched the “Deterrence of Aggression” military operation in northern Syria, seizing control of dozens of towns and villages, in addition to major cities such as Aleppo and the entire Idleb governorate, and reached the outskirts of the city of Hama.
For their part, Assad regime forces and Russia stepped up strikes on residential neighborhoods and civilian facilities in the governorate, which led to hundreds of civilian casualties. This escalation came in response to their loss of large areas in the region that had been controlled by the Assad regime.
