Security Council briefing by Najat Rochdi, Deputy Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Syria, on the situation in Syria.
Deputy Special Envoy for Syria Najat Rochdi told the Council that her recent visit to Damascus drove home the sheer scale of the challenges and the need for a genuinely inclusive political transition process in the country.
The Deputy Special Envoy for Syria spoke to the Council via video link from Oslo.
Rochdi said that resolution 2799 reiterated the Council’s full respect for the sovereignty, unity, independence and territorial integrity of Syria. Yet Israeli military operations and incursions into Syrian territory continue, in grave violation of Syria’s sovereignty and of international law.
She called for Israel’s violations to cease and for adherence to the 1974 Disengagement Agreement. And I appeal to the Security Council to assume its responsibilities in this regard.
Rochdi also pointed out that tensions, lawlessness and some violence persist in several areas, with sporadic exchanges of fire between forces on frontlines. Tensions and violence have continued in Deir-ez-Zor, despite the best efforts of the leaderships to implement the nationwide ceasefire; and also on the margins of Suweida, where serious clashes have taken place.
She reiterated, “Security fragility is a reminder that lasting peace in Syria depends on comprehensive security sector reform and credible programs of disarmament, demobilization and reintegration.”
On the political front, the Deputy Special Envoy highlighted that the drafting of a permanent constitution is “a foundational task.”
She said, “The act of defining a new social contract among Syrians must be a source of peace and unity.”
Equally, Rochdi added, “the free and fair elections that are to follow that new constitution will require significant advance planning and early engagement from now, given the institutions and infrastructure that must be rebuilt after so many years of conflict and authoritarian rule.”
The Deputy Special Envoy encouraged all parties to “take tangible steps forward, particularly initial confidence-building measures, especially on detainees and abductees and the restoration of state services.”
“Any framework for reintegrating Suweida needs to uphold Syria’s sovereignty, unity, independence, and territorial integrity, and address the very real anxieties felt by the Druze regarding their safety, human rights, and inclusion in Syria’s political future – as well as those of Bedouin communities,” she concluded.
- On Nov 19, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited Israeli troops in the buffer zone in southern Syria, accompanied by Defence Minister Israel Katz and senior military chiefs, the prime minister’s office said.
- After the December 8, 2024 advance, the IDF seized buffer-zone positions, expanding the security zone, and U.S.-brokered security talks have stalled as Israel refuses to withdraw from posts seized after December 2024.
- Video from the Prime Minister’s Office showed Benjamin Netanyahu stepping from a helicopter wearing a flak jacket, visiting an IDF observation post where he observed the sector, held a security discussion and met regular and reserve soldiers on Wednesday.
- Syria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates condemned the visit as a sovereignty violation and a new attempt to `impose a fait accompli`, while Stephane Dujarric and Russia’s ambassador also condemned the trip.
- With Syria demanding a return to the 1974 Disengagement Agreement, stalled security pact talks between Israel and Syria heighten risks as Najat Rochdi warned Israeli actions endanger civilians and inflame tensions.
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