The situation in the Middle East - Security Council, 9885th meeting

Amid appalling civilian death toll in Syria, caretaker authorities must signal ‘era of impunity’ is over, Special Envoy tells Security Council.

• Categories: Meetings & Events / Security Council
• Video Length: 02:46:29
• Production Date: 25 March 2025
• Asset Language: Arabic; English; French; Russian; Spanish; Chinese; Original
• Personal Subject: GEIR PEDERSEN; THOMAS FLETCHER
• Subject Topical: CIVILIAN PROTECTION; SANCTIONS; SOVEREIGNTY; CIVIL WAR; ARMED CONFLICTS; HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE; EMERGENCY RELIEF; FINANCIAL SITUATION
• Geographic Subject: SYRIA
• MAMS Id: 3354927
• Parent Id: 3353856

Description

Meeting today — 14 years after the start of the civil war in Syria, four months since the fall of the former regime and weeks removed from harrowing violence along the country’s coast — the Security Council heard of the need for accountability and economic recovery so that the country can move towards credible, inclusive transition. 

“The legacies of 14 years of war and conflict — and five decades of one-man rule — are huge,” said Geir O. Pedersen, the Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Syria. “So are the immediate challenges facing the Syrians today,” he added. While many have rejoiced at their newfound ability to gather in public spaces without fear, many others have faced devastating violence on Syria’s coast. On that, he said that “armed groups associated with the former regime” attacked and ambushed caretaker authority forces across that region on 6 March. “Serious armed confrontations ensued, resulting in significant numbers of casualties among the warring factions,” he reported. 

“But far more disturbing was the appalling civilian death toll,” he stressed, spotlighting “widespread footage of grave violations of a plainly sectarian and retaliatory nature”. Detailing the broader context of fomenting insecurity, hate speech, sense of exclusion and pent-up grievance, he said that further investigation is needed to fully determine the perpetrators of the “shocking” violence against civilians. For their part, the caretaker authorities have announced an independent investigative committee tasked with examining violations by all sides. He underscored that findings must be made public and those responsible held accountable to clearly signal that “the era of impunity in Syria is in the past”. 

He went on to express concern over recent Israeli statements on the intention to stay in Syria “for the foreseeable future”, as well as demands for the “full demilitarization of southern Syria”, calling on the Council to “hold Israel to its commitment that this is a temporary presence”. Additionally, he detailed the caretaker authorities’ actions to establish a transitional Government, a permanent Constitution and transitional justice. “Syrians need an economic future,” he added, welcoming humanitarian pledges made at the ninth Brussels Conference on 17 March to support Syria’s recovery. However, observing that “more resources will be needed”, he also urged “fast and broad sanctions easing”. 

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UN Press Coverage

S/PV.9885