The situation in the Middle East - Security Council, 9896th meeting

Israel’s actions ‘threaten Syria’s fragile political transition’, senior official tells Security Council, calling on all states to respect country’s sovereignty.

• Categories: Meetings & Events / Security Council
• Video Length: 01:41:11
• Production Date: 10 April 2025
• Asset Language: Arabic; English; French; Russian; Spanish; Chinese; Original
• Personal Subject: MOHAMED KHALED KHIARI; JEAN-PIERRE LACROIX
• Corporate Name: DEPARTMENT OF POLITICAL AND PEACEBUILDING AFFAIRS - DPPA; DEPARTMENT OF PEACE OPERATIONS - DPO; UNITED NATIONS DISENGAGEMENT OBSERVER FORCE - UNDOF
• Subject Topical: MIDDLE EAST SITUATION; SOVEREIGNTY; POLITICAL CONDITIONS; PEACE AND SECURITY; PEACEBUILDING; MILITARY ACTIVITY; INTERNATIONAL LAW; HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE
• Geographic Subject: MIDDLE EAST; ISRAEL; SYRIA
• MAMS Id: 3360245
• Parent Id: 3359928

Description

In the wake of hundreds of reported Israeli air strikes across Syria since 8 December 2024, the Israel Defense Forces’ public confirmation that it built multiple positions in the area of separation and statements by Israeli leaders on their intent to stay in Syria for the foreseeable future, senior UN officials told the Security Council today that all parties must uphold their obligations under the 1974 Disengagement of Forces Agreement. 

“Such facts on the ground are not easily reversed — they do threaten Syria’s fragile political transition,” observed Khaled Khiari, Assistant Secretary-General for the Middle East, Asia and the Pacific in the Departments of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and Peace Operations. He pointed to reports of multiple Israeli air strikes across Syria on 3 April, as well as earlier indications by the authorities in Damascus on “not presenting threats to [Syria’s] neighbours and seeking peace on their borders”. He also pointed to the Israel’s Defence Minister’s 3 April statement qualifying the strikes as “a warning for the future”. 

“Considering these developments”, he spotlighted the Council’s 14 March presidential statement calling on all States to respect Syria’s sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity and to “refrain from any action or interference that may further destabilize Syria”. Underscoring that the Council’s commitment to the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity “grows in importance by the day”, he urged: “Syria’s opportunity to stabilize after 14 years of conflict must be supported and protected, for Syrians and for Israelis, this is the only way regional peace and security can be realized.” 

Related Sites and Documents

UN Press Coverage

S/PV.9896