Antonio Guterres expressed concern about the airstrikes carried out by Israel in Syria, calling them violations of the country's territorial integrity. The UN Secretary-General called for these actions to be immediately stopped, BTA reports.
Israel has carried out hundreds of airstrikes aimed at destroying strategic weapons and military infrastructure in Syria following a rebel offensive that ousted Syrian President Bashar Assad.
Israel in the demilitarized zone of the Golan Heights
Israeli troops were deployed in the demilitarized zone between Syria and the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights. Israel says the deployment is limited and temporary, aimed at securing its borders. Guterres said the buffer zone should be used only by UN peacekeepers, insisting that the terms of the 1974 Separation of Forces Agreement be respected.
UN seeks peaceful political transition in Syria
The UN Secretary-General stressed that the organization's efforts will be focused on ensuring a peaceful and inclusive political transition in Syria, while continuing to work to resolve the humanitarian crisis in the country. Guterres noted the importance of the international community supporting the Syrian people, expressing hope that the future of Syria will be decided by the Syrians themselves.
Support for victims of violence in Syria
Guterres also announced the appointment of Mexican lawyer Carla Quintana as head of the Independent Institution for Missing Persons in Syria. This institution, established by the UN General Assembly in 2023, aims to establish the fate of the missing and provide support to victims and their families.