DAMASCUS — The United Nations has called on the Syrian government to conduct a swift and transparent investigation into the deadly clashes in the southern province of Suwayda, where recent fighting has left scores dead and disrupted humanitarian operations. The appeal came amid mounting international alarm over escalating violence, including a spate of Israeli airstrikes that have targeted Syrian territory under the pretext of protecting the Druze minority.
Mohamed Khaled Khiari, UN Assistant Secretary-General for the Middle East, told the Security Council that the violence in Suwayda, which began on July 13, has resulted in hundreds of casualties, including women and children, and has overwhelmed the province’s limited healthcare infrastructure. With roads blocked and aid convoys suspended, the situation for civilians continues to deteriorate.
Fighting broke out between Druze factions and other local groups before drawing in Syrian military forces on July 15. The army’s deployment was intended to restore order, but within 24 hours, the crisis was compounded by Israeli strikes near Damascus, which Tel Aviv claimed were intended to shield the Druze population. Observers have sharply rejected that justification, warning that such interventions risk inflaming an already volatile region.
Israel’s cross-border attacks, launched under the guise of humanitarian concern, are viewed by UN officials as violations of the 1974 disengagement agreement and a broader threat to regional stability. In his Security Council briefing, Khiari emphasized the need to uphold existing ceasefire lines and restore diplomatic channels rather than resorting to unilateral military actions.
The violence in Suwayda represents a grave humanitarian concern but also exposes the deep fractures in post-war Syria. The province, long considered one of the quieter corners of the country during the civil war, has seen growing unrest tied to economic hardship, drug trafficking, and local power struggles. The involvement of Israeli forces adds an international dimension that could pull neighboring countries into the fray.
The UN has urged Damascus to ensure any investigation into the Suwayda killings meets international standards and is not merely symbolic. The call for accountability comes as both local and foreign actors seek to shape the outcome of Syria’s fragmented internal politics.
The renewed Israeli aggression further underscores the pattern of impunity that Tel Aviv has enjoyed in Syria. By carrying out strikes during a non-war period and justifying them as defensive, Israel has once again demonstrated a blatant disregard for international norms, emboldened by decades of Western protection.
According to TASS, UN officials reiterated that only a genuine reconciliation process, one that includes all sectors of Syria’s diverse society, can offer a sustainable solution. But as long as foreign interference continues, including from Israel and its allies, the hope for a peaceful future remains distant.
