Syria: UN envoy condemns violence in Suweida governorate | United Nations
Briefing the Security Council today (Jul 28), the UN Special Envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen, condemned a deadly outbreak of violence in Syria’s Suweida governorate that left civilians dead and displaced thousands calling it “violence that should not have happened.”
On 12 July, tensions between Bedouin tribes and Druze communities flared into armed clashes, following a series of mutual kidnappings. Syrian authorities deployed security forces to the area, but those forces were “attacked, killed and abducted by Druze groups,” Pedersen said, adding that “there were extremely grave reports of serious violations by security forces against Druze civilians.”
As fighting intensified, Israeli airstrikes targeted Syrian security personnel and armed Bedouin groups in and around Suweida. Israel also struck a Ministry of Defense building and conducted airstrikes near the Presidential Palace in Damascus. “Israel’s strikes caused casualties among civilians and security forces,” Pedersen said.
“I condemn the appalling violations against civilians and combatants in Suweida,” he added. “I also condemn Israel’s intervention and dangerous airstrikes in Suweida and in Damascus.”
The humanitarian fallout has been severe. Edem Wosornu, Director of Operations and Advocacy at the UN humanitarian affairs office (OCHA), said the violence displaced an estimated 175,000 people, roughly a third of Suweida’s population, in an area where “two-thirds of people were already in need of assistance.”
Compounding the crisis, wildfires in the coastal governorate of Lattakia displaced more than 1,100 people and destroyed vital farmland, Wosornu said. She warned that “the fires were exacerbated by the worst drought-like conditions Syria has seen in 36 years,” with key reservoirs now at historically low levels.
Syria’s UN Ambassador, Qusay al-Dahhak, said the country is confronting “multifaceted, complex and serious challenges,” and urged the international community to maintain positive engagement and support.
He also said, “Israeli attacks continue to undermine efforts to achieve recovery and meet the aspirations of our people. The Israeli occupation entity pursues its attempts to impose a new occupation reality by undermining Syria’s national unity, stoking strife and obstructing efforts to achieve security and stability.”
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