UN special envoy warns violence in As‑Suwayda is undermining Syria transition, cites 175,000 displaced

Geir Pedersen, the United Nations special envoy for Syria, told the Security Council that a month of escalating violence in As‑Suwayda and strikes in Damascus produced “hundreds” of casualties, widespread abuses and about 175,000 people displaced.

Pedersen said the fighting began in December with kidnappings that spiraled into clashes among local groups and neighboring tribes. He told the Council that initial cease‑fire arrangements collapsed, that security forces were both attacked and accused of serious violations, and that disturbing footage circulated showing summary executions, degrading treatment and looting.

The envoy said Israeli airstrikes also struck in and around As‑Suwayda and in Damascus, and that both civilian and security‑force casualties were reported. “I condemn the appalling violations against civilians and combatants in As‑Suwayda,” Pedersen said. He told the Council the United Nations and the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights have received credible reports of summary executions, arbitrary killings, kidnappings, destruction of private property, and looting.

Pedersen said the Syrian Ministry of Defense has described some perpetrators as wearing military uniforms and promised that perpetrators would not be tolerated, and that the Syrian presidency issued a statement condemning the violations and pledging accountability. He noted, however, that the UN had not seen a committee report the authorities publicly released and urged that the report be published and implemented to ensure justice for victims.

The envoy warned that the fragmented security architecture — a mixture of militias, irregulars and state forces — cannot sustain peace, and called for disarmament, demobilization and security‑sector reform applied equally to all armed groups. He said trust in lasting security “depends above all on the credibility of the political transition itself,” and urged that the coming formation of a partially elected People’s Assembly be inclusive and transparent.

Pedersen described difficulties implementing the March 10 agreement in northeast Syria and said talks between transition authorities and Security Force leadership had not bridged key differences. He said the UN is engaging both sides and urged that the electoral framework for selecting electoral colleges and assembly members be published and designed to ensure that major constituencies — including women — can participate as electors and candidates.

The envoy also expressed concern about reports of abductions of women and other patterns of abuse against women, and said the UN would continue monitoring the situation. He closed by saying the United Nations is ready to work with the Syrian authorities and all Syrians to support a genuinely inclusive transition.