UN Warns Renewed Violence Threatens Syria’s Fragile Stability

The UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Syria warned on Thursday that renewed waves of violence in several parts of the country risk undermining the optimism that followed the fall of the former Syrian regime last year, stressing that the nation’s future “hangs in the balance.”

In an address to the UN General Assembly, Commission Chair Paulo Sérgio Pinheiro urged the interim authorities and member states to address the root causes of violence and prevent its recurrence, emphasizing that “stability cannot be achieved without justice and accountability.”

According to the Commission, more than one million Syrian refugees have returned home since December 2024, encouraged by a climate of hope following the establishment of new national bodies such as the Transitional Justice Authority and the National Commission for the Missing, both aimed at promoting justice and rebuilding trust among citizens.

While welcoming these developments as positive steps toward state-building, the Commission warned that escalating violence in the provinces of Latakia, Tartus, Hama, and Sweida in recent months has weakened those gains.

The report stated that around 1,400 people, including women and children, were killed in March during clashes between groups loyal to the former regime and security elements of the interim government. It also documented reports of summary executions, torture, and forced displacement targeting civilians from the Alawite community.

During field visits to Sweida and surrounding areas, investigators collected testimonies from residents describing persistent fear and insecurity. The Commission also voiced deep concern over a rise in kidnappings of women and girls, noting that some victims had suffered sexual violence or forced marriage amid criticism of local authorities’ inaction.

Pinheiro warned of deteriorating humanitarian conditions as winter approaches, particularly among displaced Druze and Bedouin communities facing severe shortages in shelter and aid. He called on UN member states to scale up urgent humanitarian assistance.

The Commission further condemned ongoing Israeli airstrikes and ground incursions in southern Syria, cautioning that “foreign interventions risk fueling the conflict and deepening civilian suffering.”

In the north, the report pointed to rising tensions near Aleppo and Tishrin Dam, while noting that northeastern Syria remains relatively stable—allowing humanitarian and administrative activities to continue.

Pinheiro concluded that “a safe Syria that respects rights and embraces all its communities requires strong institutions founded on the rule of law and human rights,” stressing the need for urgent reforms and effective accountability mechanisms.

The report noted that the Syrian Interim Government viewed the recommendations as a “roadmap for national recovery,” and urged the international community to support the country’s path toward justice and institutional reform.