UN Syria envoy warns of national fragmentation following violence in Sweida, Israeli airstrikes

Arab News

5 days ago

NEW YORK: The Syrian Arab Republic's political transition is under acute strain following a month of spiraling violence, Israeli attacks, mounting civilian casualties, and growing fears of national fragmentation, the UN special envoy for the country warned on Monday.
Briefing the UN Security Council on the latest developments, Geir O. Pedersen condemned the outbreak of intercommunal fighting in Sweida and called Israel's airstrikes 'dangerous' and 'unacceptable,' urging all parties to respect Syria's sovereignty and international law.
'This past month has rocked Syria's transition,' he said. 'Mass casualties, foreign intervention and a surge in violations have drained public trust and created new dangers of fragmentation.'
Violence erupted on July 12 in Sweida following a cycle of mutual kidnappings that escalated into armed clashes between Druze groups and Bedouin tribes.
The deployment of Syrian government forces aimed to restore order but rapidly unraveled amid accusations of serious abuses, including extrajudicial killings and destruction of property.
'Footage of extrajudicial executions, degrading treatment and sectarian incitement circulated widely,' Pedersen said.
'The toll was devastating — hundreds wounded and killed, many of them civilians, particularly from the Druze community.'
Amid the chaos, Israel launched a series of airstrikes targeting Syrian security forces and Bedouin fighters in Sweida, and later struck near the presidential palace in Damascus.
Pedersen denounced the strikes, saying they caused civilian casualties and further inflamed tensions.
A second ceasefire was brokered on July 19, bringing a tenuous calm to the region, but Pedersen warned that the situation remains volatile.
Approximately 175,000 people have been displaced and humanitarian needs are acute. The UN is seeking unrestricted access to deliver aid and conduct protection work.
Pedersen also highlighted reports of widespread abuses during the clashes, allegedly committed by both government-affiliated forces and local armed groups. Violations include arbitrary killings, kidnappings and looting.
'The Ministry of Defense claims the perpetrators were an 'unknown group in uniform,' but accountability is essential,' he said, welcoming recent statements from the Syrian presidency pledging investigations.
Pedersen voiced alarm at reports of abductions and disappearances of Druze women during security operations, raising fears of a broader pattern similar to earlier incidents involving Alawite women.
He also stressed the need for clear disarmament and security sector reform, warning that the current patchwork of militias and irregular forces is unsustainable.
'The state must act with discipline and professionalism,' he said. 'Syrians need to see state forces as protectors, not threats.'
Turning to the broader political process, Pedersen acknowledged that while many Syrians still support the government's transition roadmap, concerns over centralization, lack of transparency and exclusion remain.
He said the formation of a new People's Assembly in September could mark a turning point if handled inclusively.
'It is absolutely vital that all Syrian communities and women are fully included, both as electors and candidates,' he stressed, noting concerns that some groups still face marginalization or intimidation.
In Idlib, women who protested the violence in Sweida reportedly faced threats of prosecution, online harassment and physical attacks.
Efforts to implement a landmark deal between the government and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces also remain fraught, Pedersen said.
The March 10 agreement aimed to integrate the SDF into state institutions, guarantee constitutional rights for all groups and establishing a nationwide ceasefire.
A recent meeting between transitional authorities and the SDF, attended by US and French diplomats, failed to overcome core disagreements. Another round is tentatively planned in Paris.
Pedersen concluded with a call for 'flexibility and wisdom' from all Syrian stakeholders. 'If the state is seen as a threat by key constituencies, positions harden,' he warned.
'Likewise, if local leaders reject integration, unity becomes impossible. The Syrian political transition simply cannot fail.'
The UN, he affirmed, remains ready to support a Syrian-led, inclusive process that rebuilds trust, ensures accountability and restores the country's sovereignty.