UN Secretary-General Urges Urgent Halt to Hostilities in Syria
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United Nations, December 3 (NationPress) UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called for an immediate halt to hostilities in light of the recent surge of violence in Syria, according to his spokesperson.
Guterres expressed concern over the recent rise in violence across the northwest region of Syria, as stated by Stephane Dujarric, spokesperson for the UN chief, during a regular press briefing on Monday.
The UN Secretary-General urged for an immediate cessation of hostilities, reminded all parties of their responsibilities under international law, including humanitarian law, and called for a prompt return to the UN-facilitated political dialogue in accordance with Security Council resolution 2254 (2015).
This statement from Guterres followed a significant offensive by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, a group classified as a terrorist organization by the Security Council, along with its allied opposition factions, which initiated a major rebel assault last week in the Aleppo region of northwest Syria, altering frontlines that had remained unchanged since 2020, as reported by Xinhua.
As per the UN spokesperson, there are alarming reports of civilian fatalities, the displacement of tens of thousands, damage to civilian facilities, and disruptions in essential services and humanitarian aid.
The UN Chief urged all involved parties to safeguard civilians and civilian properties, including permitting safe passage for those fleeing violence.
Guterres highlighted the pressing need for all factions to actively collaborate with his special envoy for Syria to establish a comprehensive strategy to resolve the conflict, aligned with Security Council resolution 2254 (2015).
"Syrians have suffered through conflict for nearly 14 years. They deserve a political outlook that promises a peaceful future — not additional bloodshed," he remarked.
