On July 16th, local time, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres issued a statement through a spokesperson, expressing shock at the ongoing escalation of violence in the Suwayda region of Syria.
Guterres firmly condemns all acts of violence against civilians, including arbitrary killings, as well as actions that incite religious divisions and further strip the Syrian people of their opportunities for peace and reconciliation after fourteen years of brutal conflict.
Guterres extends his deepest condolences to all Syrian people and reiterates his call for an immediate de-escalation of the situation, urgent measures to restore peace, and guarantee humanitarian access.
Guterres noted that the Syrian authorities have issued statements condemning the related acts of violence and promised to conduct investigations and hold accountable those responsible. He reaffirmed that the procedures must remain transparent.
He strongly condemns the continuous escalation of airstrikes by Israel on the Suwayda and Dra regions, as well as reports of Israeli Defense Forces redeploying to the Golan Heights. He urged an immediate halt to all acts that violate Syria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, calling for respect for the 1974 Engagement Agreement.
He reiterated that the international community must steadfastly support a credible, orderly, and inclusive Syrian political process that aligns with the core principles established by Security Council Resolution 2254 (2015).
(Xu Dezhi)