The unrest began on July 12 when mutual abductions escalated into armed conflict between Druze and Bedouin tribes, drawing in Syrian security forces. The violence spiraled, with reports of extrajudicial executions, corpse desecrations, and looting. Images circulated widely on social media, intensifying sectarian tensions and spreading disinformation.
Nearly 200,000 displaced
In a presidential press release on Sunday, ambassadors expressed deep concern over recent clashes, which involved “mass killings” and displaced around 192,000 people internally. The Council “strongly condemns violence against civilians” and urges all parties to respect the cease-fire and protect the civilian population.
The 15-member organization reminded all parties of their human rights and international humanitarian law obligations, emphasizing the duty to “respect and protect” medical and humanitarian personnel. The Council urged all parties to allow “complete, safe, rapid, and unhindered humanitarian access” to affected communities in Sweida and throughout Syria, in line with the principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality, and independence.
They also stressed the need to ensure humane treatment for all combatants, including those who have surrendered, are injured, detained, or have laid down their arms.
Protection for all
The declaration called on Syrian interim authorities to protect all Syrians, “regardless of ethnicity or religion,” warning that “significant recovery in Syria is not possible without real security and protection for all Syrians.” The Council welcomed the provisional authorities’ condemnation of violence and their commitment to hold perpetrators accountable but urged them to conduct “credible, rapid, transparent, impartial, and comprehensive investigations” in line with international standards.
Reaffirming resolutions, including 2254 (2015), the Council reiterated its “strong commitment to the sovereignty, independence, unity, and territorial integrity of the Syrian Arab Republic” and called on all states to avoid “negative or destructive interference” that could further destabilize the country.
The declaration also recalled the 1974 disengagement agreement and the mandate of the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) monitoring the contested Golan area along the Syria-Israel border, urging all parties to adhere to its terms to maintain calm.
Regarding terrorism, the Council cited the latest report from its analytical support and sanctions monitoring team, expressing “great concern over the acute threat posed by foreign terrorist fighters” in Syria. It urged the country to take decisive measures against ISIL (Da’esh) and Al-Qaida in accordance with relevant resolutions.
Looking ahead, the Council reiterated its call for “an inclusive political process, Syrian-led and Syrian-owned,” based on resolution 2254, to uphold the rights of all Syrians and enable them to “determine their future peacefully, independently, and democratically.”
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