UN Syria Commission: Fresh clashes and Israeli intervention threaten fragile peace

GENEVA – The recent surge in violence and deadly clashes with sectarian dimensions in Damascus countryside, which also spread to Suweyda governorate, is deeply troubling for Syria’s path toward sustainable and rights-respecting peace, the UN Syria Commission warned today.

More than 100 people have reportedly been killed, including a number of civilians. The risk of greater fragmentation and harm to civilians is increased by continued Israeli airstrikes across the Syrian territory.

The spread of discriminatory incitement and hate speech, including through social media, is fuelling violence and risks threating Syria's fragile social cohesion. The Commission urges all parties involved in the current escalation to immediately cease hostilities and pursue all available avenues for de-escalation and dialogue. The protection of civilians, humanitarian access, and the prevention of further displacement must be prioritised.

Israeli airstrikes and threats of further military intervention as it continues to expand its occupation of the Syrian Golan, as well as its attempts to divide various Syrian communities, risk further destabilising Syria. Syria's recent history should serve as a reminder that external interventions have often led to increased violence, displacement, and fragmentation.

While the situation remains fluid and an agreement has reportedly been reached between prominent leaders in Suweyda and the authorities in Damascus, the Commission underscores that the interim government remains responsible for ensuring the protection of all civilians in areas under its control.

Impunity for grave violations has in the past been a consistent driver of Syria’s conflict and must not be allowed to persist. Only by upholding the rule of law and ensuring justice, accountability and reparations for victims and their families can Syria begin to rebuild trust across its fractured communities.

The interim government must ensure prompt, impartial, transparent and independent investigations into these violations of international law and that perpetrators are held accountable through credible processes under Syrian law.

The recent clashes following on the violence in Syria’s coastal areas in early March underscores the country’s fragile security situation and the urgent need for de-escalation. The Commission’s investigations continue.

ENDS

Background: The Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic was established on 22 August 2011 by the Human Rights Council through resolutionS-17/1.The mandate of the Commission is to investigate all alleged violations of international human rights law since March 2011 in the Syrian Arab Republic. The Human Rights Council also tasked the Commission with establishing the facts and circumstances that may amount to such violations and of the crimes perpetrated and, where possible, to identify those responsible with a view of ensuring that perpetrators of violations, including those that may constitute crimes against humanity, are held accountable. The Human Rights Council has repeatedly extended the Commission's mandate since then, most recently until 31 March 2025.

The commissioners were appointed by the President of the UN Human Rights Council; they are not UN staff and do not receive a salary for their work. While the UN Human Rights Office provides support to the Commission of Inquiry, the commissioners serve in their individual capacity and are independent from any government or organization, including the UN. Views presented herein are solely those of the mandated commissioners.

Current Commissioners:

• Paulo Sérgio Pinheiro (Brazil), Chair
• Hanny Megally (Egypt)
• Lynn Welchman (United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland)

For media requests, please contact: Johan Eriksson, UN Syria Commission of Inquiry Media Adviser, at +41 76 691 0411 / [email protected]; or Todd Pitman, Media Adviser, Investigative Missions, at [email protected]; Pascal Sim, Human Rights Council Media Officer at [email protected].