Latest news with #UNDOF
Scoop
a day ago
- Politics
- Scoop
Security Council Voices Deep Concern Over Deadly Escalation In Syria's Sweida Region
10 August 2025 Unrest began on 12 July when mutual kidnappings escalated into armed conflict between Druze groups and Bedouin tribes, drawing in Syrian security forces. The violence spiralled, with reports of extrajudicial executions, desecration of corpses and looting. Footage circulated widely on social media fanned sectarian tensions and disinformation. Nearly 200,000 displaced In a presidential statement adopted on Sunday, ambassadors said they were 'deeply concerned' by the recent fighting, which has included 'mass killings' and led to the internal displacement of some 192,000 people. The Council 'strongly condemns the violence perpetrated against civilians…and calls on all parties to adhere to the ceasefire arrangement and to ensure the protection of the civilian population.' The 15-member body reminded all sides of their obligations under human rights and international humanitarian law, stressing in particular the duty to 'respect and protect' all medical and humanitarian personnel. Council members urged all parties to allow 'full, safe, rapid and unhindered humanitarian access' to affected communities in the heavily-Druze Sweida area and across Syria, in line with the principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality and independence. They also underscored the need to ensure the humane treatment of all combatants, including those who have surrendered, are wounded, detained, or have laid down their arms. Protection for all The statement called on the Syrian interim authorities to protect all Syrians 'regardless of ethnicity or religion' and warned that 'there can be no meaningful recovery in Syria without genuine safety and protection for all Syrians.' The Council welcomed the interim authorities' condemnation of the violence and their commitment to investigate those responsible, but urged them to ensure 'credible, swift, transparent, impartial, and comprehensive investigations… in line with international standards.' Reaffirming resolutions including 2254 (2015), the Council reiterated its 'strong commitment to the sovereignty, independence, unity, and territorial integrity of the Syrian Arab Republic' and called on all States to avoid 'negative or destructive interference' that could further destabilise the country. The statement also recalled the 1974 Disengagement Agreement and the mandate of the UN Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) tmonitoring and patrolling the contested Golan on the Syria-Israel border, urging all parties to abide by its terms to maintain calm. On the threat of terrorism, the Council cited the latest report of its Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team, voicing 'grave concern over the acute threat posed by foreign terrorist fighters' in Syria. It urged the country to take decisive measures against ISIL (Da'esh) and Al-Qaida, in line with relevant resolutions. Looking ahead, the Council repeated its call for 'an inclusive, Syrian-led and Syrian-owned political process' based on resolution 2254, to safeguard the rights of all Syrians and enable them to 'peacefully, independently and democratically determine their futures.'
Al-Ahram Weekly
04-07-2025
- Politics
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Syria ready to work with US to return to 1974 disengagement deal with Israel - Region
Syria said on Friday it was willing to cooperate with the United States to reimplement the 1974 disengagement agreement with Israel, a deal that created a United Nations-patrolled buffer zone separating the two countries' forces on the Golan Heights. In a statement following a phone call with his US counterpart Marco Rubio, Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani expressed Damascus's 'aspiration to cooperate with the United States to return to the 1974 disengagement agreement.' The accord, reached a year after the 1973 Arab-Israeli war, established an 80-kilometre (50-mile) UN-monitored buffer zone between Israeli-occupied territory and Syrian-controlled land. While the Golan Heights is internationally recognised as Syrian territory, Israel captured around two-thirds of the area during the 1967 Arab-Israeli war and unilaterally annexed it in 1981—a move not recognised by most of the international community. Following the ouster of President Bashar al-Assad in December 2024, the Israeli army occupied outposts on the Syrian-controlled sector of Mount Hermon, inside the UN Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) buffer zone. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed Syrian forces had abandoned their positions after Assad's fall and said he ordered the army to 'temporarily' seize the area until new security arrangements could be made. Netanyahu later declared the 1974 agreement 'collapsed' and expanded Israeli military control into parts of the demilitarised zone, citing security concerns. The UNDOF condemned the move as a 'severe violation' of the ceasefire and said Israeli activity breached the terms of the agreement. At the 34th Arab League Summit in May 2025, al-Shaibani described Israel's ongoing violations as posing 'a direct threat to regional stability,' urging international pressure for Israeli withdrawal, according to Anadolu Agency. Despite widespread international condemnation, Israel has shown no intention of pulling back. In recent weeks, Washington has intensified diplomatic efforts to broker a normalisation deal between Syria and Israel. US envoy Thomas Barrack told The New York Times that the two sides were engaged in 'meaningful' US-brokered talks aimed at ending their decades-long border conflict. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said on Monday that Israel had an 'interest' in normalising relations with Syria and Lebanon. However, he insisted the Golan Heights 'will remain part of the State of Israel' under any future agreement. Syrian state media reported that al-Shaibani and Rubio also discussed US sanctions, the chemical weapons dossier, Iranian involvement in Syria, counterterrorism efforts against ISIS, and repeated Israeli attacks on southern Syria. Rubio reportedly warned that the worst outcome would be a fragmented Syria or a return to civil war. Syria and Israel have technically remained in a state of war since 1948. Israel has carried out frequent airstrikes and incursions across Syria, particularly in the south, targeting army positions and killing civilians. *This story was edited by Ahram Online. Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
Scoop
30-06-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
Lacroix Upholds Role Of UN Peacekeeping In Lebanon And Syria
Jean-Pierre Lacroix briefed journalists on his recent visit to the two countries ahead of Security Council meetings on the extension of the mandates of the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) and the UN Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) in the Golan. He said UNIFIL 'has been working very hard' in the wake of the cessation of hostilities. Achievements in Lebanon The agreement last November between Lebanon and Israel followed more than a year of fighting on Lebanese territory between Hezbollah militants and Israeli forces, linked to the war in Gaza. 'I believe that there are a number of achievements that have been realized with the support of UNIFIL,' he said. Mr. Lacroix reported that the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) have continued to strengthen their presence south of the Litani river, with UNIFIL's support. The Mission has also worked to identify and neutralize weapon caches. Furthermore, UNIFIL also continues to play a critical liaison and de-conflicting role between the LAF and the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), and supports the local population, including through mine action and clearing roads. While highlighting these achievements, he stressed that more needs to be done to achieve the full implementation of Security Council resolution 1701 (2006), which defines UNIFIL's mandate, noting that violations continue. Mr. Lacroix also interacted with the Lebanese authorities who 'unequivocally' upheld the critical need for the Mission's continuous presence. His visit also coincided with last days in office of UNIFIL Force Commander Major General Aroldo Lázaro Sáenz, who he praised for heading the Mission 'during extremely, extremely challenging times.' He also welcomed incoming Force Commander Diodato Abagnara and wished him all the best going forward. Developments in Syria Meanwhile, UNDOF continues its 'critically important' role liaising between the Syrian and Israeli authorities and working to resolve the conflict. He said the presence of the IDF in the so-called area of separation is a violation as only UNDOF can have a military presence there, according to the 1973 Designation of Forces Agreement. Mr. Lacroix interacted with senior officials from the interim authorities in Syria who expressed support for UNDOF, adding that communication between them has improved. 'At the same time, I heard very clearly from the Syrian authorities that they are ready to assume the full authority of the whole of Syrian territory, including deploying the military and security presence to all the Syrian territory,' he said. 'That includes the area where UNDOF is, of course, according to and consistent with the provisions of the 1973 Agreement.' He welcomed this 'expression of readiness' while emphasizing that UNDOF's goal is a return to the full implementation of the accord.
Shafaq News
11-06-2025
- Politics
- Shafaq News
New Mideast diplomacy: Netanyahu pushes for direct talks with Syria
Shafaq News/ Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is seeking to initiate direct negotiations with Syria's new government under US mediation, Axios reported, citing two Israeli officials. Netanyahu presented the proposal to US Envoy Tom Barrack during a recent meeting in Jerusalem, aiming to explore normalization, which, if formalized, would mark the first direct engagement between Israel and Syria since 2011, before the outbreak of the Syrian civil war. Barrack, a senior advisor to President Donald Trump, had visited Damascus days earlier, where he met with transitional Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa and reopened the US ambassador's residence—closed since 2012. He described the Israel-Syria conflict as 'a solvable problem' and urged starting with a non-aggression agreement to establish diplomatic momentum. Al-Sharaa, a former rebel commander, assumed power following the collapse of Bashar al-Assad's regime in late 2024. His transitional government, formed under an interim constitution adopted in March, has aligned itself closely with Washington and Riyadh. Israeli officials now view al-Sharaa's orientation as a diplomatic opportunity. 'It is better for us that the Syrian government is close to the US and Saudi Arabia,' one senior official told Axios. Initial communications took place via intermediaries but have since progressed to direct meetings in third countries. Officials described al-Sharaa as more pragmatic than expected and emphasized his independence from Turkish influence —an important factor for Israel, which has long opposed Ankara's military presence and backing of Syrian opposition factions. During Barrack's visit, Israel outlined key requirements for any agreement: - Withdrawal of Iranian, Hezbollah, and Turkish military forces from Syria. - Full demilitarization of southern Syria. - Reactivation of the 1974 UN Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) with the inclusion of US troops. - Binding non-aggression guarantees along the border. UNDOF's monitoring role had eroded during the civil war, but Israeli officials now propose expanding its mandate under a new security framework. The future of the Golan Heights—a territory occupied by Israel since 1967 and formally recognized as Israeli by the Trump administration in 2019—will be central to any talks. While previous Syrian governments demanded full Israeli withdrawal, Israeli officials believe Damascus may adopt a more flexible approach under al-Sharaa's leadership, especially given his alignment with the US.
Daily Record
05-06-2025
- Politics
- Daily Record
BBC crew blindfolded and held at gunpoint by Israeli forces in southern Syria
The seven member team, including British correspondent Feras Kilani were told that Israeli personnel had asked questions about their identity before the incident. A BBC Arabic news crew have claimed they were detained at gunpoint by Israeli forces while reporting in southern Syria in an incident which BBC has described as "wholly unacceptable" treatment of its journalists. The seven member team, including British correspondent Feras Kilani, two Iraqi BBC staff, and four Syrian colleagues, say they travelled from Syrian capital Damascus to the southern province of Deraa, planning to head towards the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, reports the BBC. The group wanted to report from Syrian territory - now under Israeli control - following Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's December declaration of indefinite Israeli presence in a demilitarised buffer zone. As they filmed near a UN Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) post outside al-Rafeed, the crew was told by a UN official that Israeli personnel had asked about their identity and had been told they were press from the BBC. Shortly after, as they approached the buffer zone near Quneitra, the team encountered an unguarded checkpoint flanked by Israeli Merkava tanks. Israeli soldiers observed them from a nearby tower. As the journalists began filming, a white vehicle crossed from the Israeli side with four soldiers emerging, surrounding the crew and aiming rifles at their head. Despite showing press credentials and explaining they were BBC journalists, the situation quickly escalated. The soldiers seized phones and equipment, searched the team's vehicle, and transferred them into the city of Queneitra. At a checkpoint dividing Queneitra and the occupied Golan, the crew was held for several hours. Kilani recalled one soldiers who held a rifle aimed at his head from close range while others reviewed footage from their confiscated devices. He was then forced to speak to an unidentified man over the phone, who questioned their activities in broken arabic. Later, a second group of security personnel arrived carrying blindfolds and plastic zip ties. Kilana was separated from the team and took into a derelict room for a strip search and interrogation. The officer reportedly told him he would be treated differently and without restraints . However, he was still forced to strip down to his underwear. He was asked about his family and the purpose of his reporting. Meanwhile, the other members of the team experienced similar treatment. Kilani described seeing his colleagues bound and blindfolded before they were interrogated one by one. Personal photos and data was also deleted from their devices. More than seven hours later, at around 9pm, the group was released in a remote area abouy 2km outside Quneitra. Their phone were thrown to the ground before the Israeli vehicle left. The group was left disorientated and without signal, but eventually reached a nearby village where residents directed them back to the highway. In a statement, the BBC said: "On Friday 9 May whilst filming in Southern Syria, BBC News Arabic correspondent Feras Kilani, along with two other BBC staff members and four freelance colleagues, were detained for seven hours and held at gunpoint by the Isreal Defense Forces (IDF). "The team have described how they were tied up, blindfolded, strip searched, interrogated and threatened. Their electronic devices were also taken from them and material was deleted. "The BBC strongly objects to the treatment of our staff and freelancers in this way. Despite making clear to the soldiers on multiple occasions they were working for the BBC, the behaviour they were subjected to is wholly unacceptable. "We have registered a complaint with the Israeli military but are yet to receive a response."
