\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cSyria\u2019s opportunity to stabilise after 14 years of conflict must be supported and protected, for Syrians and for Israelis<\/strong>,\u201d said Khaled Khiari, Assistant Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is the only way regional peace and security can be realized.\u201d<\/p>\n Mr. Khiari and the head of UN Peace Operations, Jean-Pierre Lacroix, briefed ambassadors on recent Israeli violations of the 1974 Disengagement of Forces Agreement between the country and Syria.<\/p>\n The accord ended the Yom Kippur war and established an area of separation in the rocky plateau region known as the Golan, along the border between the two countries.\u00a0<\/p>\n It also authorised the UN Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) to supervise the agreement, and peacekeepers to monitor the buffer zone.<\/p>\n Mr. Khiari said that hundreds of reported Israeli airstrikes have taken place across Syria since the fall of the Assad regime on 8 December 2024, namely in the southwest, the Syrian coast, northeastern Syria, Damascus, Hama, and Homs.<\/p>\n The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) also publicly confirmed that it has built multiple positions in the elevated area of separation on the Golan, while Israeli officials have spoken of the country\u2019s intentions to stay in Syria \u201cfor the foreseeable future,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n \u201cSuch facts on the ground are not easily reversed. They do threaten Syria\u2019s fragile political transition<\/strong>,\u201d he warned.<\/p>\n Most recently, Syria informed the council of reports of multiple Israeli airstrikes on 3 April, including in Damascus, the Hama Military Airport, and the T4 military airport in Homs. Simultaneous attacks in Daraa reportedly resulted in nine civilian casualties.<\/p>\n The Syrian interim authorities condemned the attacks, calling them a blatant violation of international law and Syrian sovereignty and an attempt to destabilize the country.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cLet me also recall earlier indications by the Damascus authorities, as had been published in numerous media outlets, of not presenting threats to its neighbours and seeking peace on their borders,\u201d said Mr. Khiari.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, Israel\u2019s Defence Minister was quoted describing airstrikes as \u201ca warning for the future\u201d, and that Israel would \u201cnot allow Syria to become a threat\u201d to its security interests.<\/p>\n In light of these developments, Mr. Khiari pointed to the council\u2019s presidential statement dated 14 March which reaffirmed strong commitment to Syria\u2019s sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity.<\/p>\n It also called on all States to respect these principles and to refrain from any action or interference that may further destabilize the country.<\/p>\n \u201cThis council\u2019s commitment to Syria\u2019s sovereignty and territorial integrity grows in importance by the day<\/strong>,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n He further recalled that UN Special Envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen addressed Israeli military escalation in a statement on 3 April, saying such actions undermine efforts to build a new Syria.<\/p>\n \u201cSyria is at a crossroads and deserves a chance to continue to work towards an inclusive political transition<\/strong>, where the Syrian people can overcome the conflict, revive their economy, realize their legitimate aspirations, and contribute to regional stability,\u201d Mr. Khiari said.<\/p>\n \u201cFurthermore, short-term and tactical security actions and gains should not derail prospects for peace agreement between the two neighbours<\/strong> and long-term stability at their internationally recognized border.\u201d<\/p>\n Mr. Lacroix briefed the council on developments in the UNDOF area of operations, where the situation remains volatile and characterized by violations of the 1974 Agreement.<\/p>\n The IDF currently occupies 12 positions that they established on the Bravo side, located east of the area of separation.\u00a0 Ten are in the zone and the others are in the vicinity.<\/p>\n \u201cThey also continue to construct counter-mobility obstacles along the ceasefire line, and have flown, on several occasions, aircraft across the ceasefire line and helicopters into the area of separation,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n The Israeli forces also continue to impose some restrictions of movement on UNDOF and the Observer Group Golan, comprised of military observers from the UN Truce Supervision Organization (UNTSO). Local residents have also had their movements curtailed, prompting protests.<\/p>\n \u201cIn recent weeks, UNDOF personnel have noted multiple explosions on the Bravo side, which they deem to be significant kinetic activity linked to the efforts of the IDF to, and I quote, \u2018demilitarize the south of Syria<\/strong>,\u2019\u201d said Mr. Lacroix<\/p>\n In the meantime, UNDOF continues to liaise with both parties and engage on specific issues impacting its operations as well as complaints conveyed by residents in the separation zone.<\/p>\n \u201cIn their engagement with the UNDOF leadership, senior IDF officials have restated that their presence in the area of separation was necessary to secure it from what they describe as \u2018terrorist elements\u2019 and informed that Israel had no territorial ambitions in Syria,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cThey have reiterated Israel\u2019s expectation of the demilitarization of the area southwest of Damascus,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n He reported that on the Bravo side, UNDOF is reinforcing its coordination mechanism through new liaison arrangements with Syrian authorities, which includes enhancing information sharing and regular consultative meetings.\u00a0<\/p>\nTransition under threat<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Multiple airstrikes reported<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Respect Syria\u2019s sovereignty<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Volatile security situation<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Explosions and engagement<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Uphold 1974 Agreement<\/strong><\/h2>\n