UN special envoy for Syria warns over regional tensions reaching 'dangerous new levels'

By Merve Aydogan

HAMILTON, Canada (AA) - UN Special Envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen on Wednesday emphasized the severe impact of escalating violence in the Middle East, particularly on Syria, saying that tensions have "reached dangerous new levels."

"Violence this last month has not only taken a toll on civilians but also presented new threats to international peace and security," Pedersen said at a UN Security Council session.

He said "tensions in the region have reached dangerous new levels with a series of incidents," in which he pointed to the Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon's capital, Beirut, targeted killings of leaders in Iran's capital Tehran and Beirut, and Israeli strikes in Lebanon that have also resulted in Syrian casualties, including children.

"Syria and Syrians have not been exempt from this escalation," he said, adding that mid-August saw Syrians killed in Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon.

"We must redouble our efforts towards regional de-escalation in the interest of long-term peace and stability for all – including with an urgent cease-fire in Gaza, a return to calm in Lebanon and across the Blue Line, and wider regional de-escalation," he added.

Noting the need for de-escalation in the Syrian conflict, Pedersen also conveyed concern over the Daesh/ISIS terror group’s increased "operational pace in Syria, with a surge of attacks, especially in the central desert area."

He reiterated his call for a nationwide cease-fire and a cooperative approach to combating terrorist groups.

"All of the above realities are why I reiterate my longstanding call for an immediate and sustained de-escalation of hostilities in Syria," Pedersen said.

Joyce Msuya, the UN Acting Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, echoed Pedersen's remarks and described the severe humanitarian crisis in Syria, where over 16 million people—70% of the population—require assistance.

Msuya warned of worsening conditions, with displaced Syrians facing critical shortages in food, water and health care due to underfunding.

"We cannot afford to lose focus on Syria," she said, highlighting the urgent need for increased humanitarian funding to address the escalating crisis.

She also called on the Security Council to back efforts for lasting peace in the region.

- Russia, China blame US for ongoing Syria crisis

Meanwhile, US Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN Robert Wood urged the Syrian regime to "allow for more predictable and longer-term access" at the border crossings for humanitarian aid.

Wood also affirmed continued US sanctions on Syria until "there is concrete, measurable progress toward a political solution in line with resolution 2254."

Russian envoy Dmitry Polyanskiy noted "the unprecedented escalation in the Gaza Strip and the ongoing Israeli military operation having an impact on Syria and the entire region."

Saying that Syria is "directly suffering" from the ongoing crisis in Gaza, Polyanskiy stated that Israel's airstrikes on Syria and neighboring countries are "a grave violation of the sovereignty of Syria," in which he accused the Western states of the Council of remaining "indifferent."

He further accused the US of being "illegally present" in Syria and said "the international humanitarian assistance to Syria is still being held hostage to politicized approaches of the West."

Chinese envoy Geng Shuang echoed Polyanskiy, accusing US sanctions of weakening Syria's "ability to recover economically and to develop socially" and called for it to stop immediately.

He also called on Israel "to cease its attacks on Syria" and demanded an end to the "illegal military presence" in Syria.

Syria's deputy permanent representative to the UN, Alhakam Dandy, also blamed "some Western countries" for the suffering in his country, saying that "the US continues to move ahead with their destructive policies of a collective punishment of peoples by imposing unilateral coercive measures that target all Syrians."

Accusing the US of not having "legal grounds" for its presence in Syria, he said "the claims and falsehoods by the US about ensuring the defeat of Daesh as a pretext and justification for the continued illegal presence are false and baseless and have no legal effect."

Wood then countered comments by the Syrian, Russian and Chinese envoys, saying that "no one has inflicted more harm on the Syrian people, whether it be economic, political or military, than the (Bashar) Assad regime."

"The regime can try to deflect blame to others, but the international community will not be fooled by these typical diversions. The regime remains a major security threat to the Syrian people," he said, adding that the Syrian regime "will be held to account" for the "atrocities" like "the use of chemical weapons" against civilians.

He also denied claims of the US "plundering Syria's resources" and affirmed that the presence of US forces is to fight Daesh/ISIS.

The Syrian envoy hit back at the US envoy by saying "we are used to the lies and the false allegations of the US administration."