UN envoy warns Syria war ‘not over’ as US extends ceasefire | Syria’s war news
The United Nations special envoy for Syria warned that the war is “not yet over” despite opposition fighters’ ouster of President Bashar al-Assad, citing clashes between Turkish-backed armed groups and Kurdish fighters in the north of the country.
“There was significant hostilities in the last two weeks before a ceasefire was negotiated,” Geir Pedersen told the U.N. Security Council in New York on Tuesday, warning that a military escalation could be “catastrophic.”
The comments follow after that Syrian National Army (SNA), a Turkish-backed group of fighters, fought with the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) after the overthrow of al-Assad.
The SDF is the key ally of a US-led coalition against ISIS (ISIL). It is led by the People’s Protection Units (YPG), which Ankara sees as an extension of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) armed group, which it bans and which has been fighting the Turkish state for 40 years.
Last week, SNA fighters captured the northern city of Manbij from the SDF, which then advanced east of the Euphrates as a U.S.-brokered ceasefire took effect.
Shortly after Pederson addressed the UN Security Council, a US State Department spokesman said the ceasefire in northern Syria had been extended until the end of this week.
“We continue to discuss a path forward with the SDF and Turkey,” State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said, adding that it was not in the interest of any party to see the conflict in Syria worsen.
Later on Tuesday, SDF commander Mazloum Abdi said in a post
He said the proposal aims to address Türkiye’s security concerns and ensure lasting stability in the region.
There was no immediate comment from Turkey, the SNA or the US.
Netanyahu visits Golan
Pedersen also called on the UN Security Council to ensure that Israel “ceases all settlement activities in the occupied Syrian Golan.”
Pedersen noted that Israel has carried out more than 350 attacks on Syria, including one, following the withdrawal of the former regime big strike on Tartus.
“Such attacks further endanger the battered civilian population and undermine the prospects for an orderly political transition,” he said.
The UN envoy warned against plans announced by the Israeli cabinet to expand settlements within the Golan, which has been occupied by Israel since 1967 and annexed in 1981.
On Tuesday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held a security briefing in the United Nations-monitored buffer zone in Israel Golan Heights which Israel seized earlier this month.
“Israel must stop all illegal settlement activities in the occupied Syrian Golan. Attacks on Syria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity must stop,” Pedersen said.
Rob Geist Pinfold, professor of peace and security at Durham University, told Al Jazeera: “Israel is trying to launch as many attacks (as possible) while it still has the freedom to do so.”
He suggested that “Israel is increasing instability (due to its fear of power vacuums and ungoverned areas on its borders).”
Geist Pinfold also said that “the international community’s response so far has certainly been lacking.”
Sanctions
Pederson also called for “broad support” for ending Western-backed sanctions against Syria to allow reconstruction in Syria devastated by war Country.
“Concrete movements for an inclusive political transition will be key to ensuring Syria receives the economic support it needs,” Pedersen said.
“The needs are immense and could only be met with broad support, including a smooth end to sanctions, appropriate measures including expulsions and full reconstruction.”
Western countries are struggling with their approach Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which led the takeover of Damascus and is a former al-Qaeda affiliate.
Although HTS has moderated its rhetoric in recent months, it has been labeled a “terrorist” group by many Western governments.
