UN Security Council Calls for Urgent Action on Gaza Humanitarian Aid 

Palestinians flee from the city of Khan Younis in southern Gaza after an Israeli ground and air offensive on Monday, Jan. 29, 2024. (AP)
Palestinians flee from the city of Khan Younis in southern Gaza after an Israeli ground and air offensive on Monday, Jan. 29, 2024. (AP)
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UN Security Council Calls for Urgent Action on Gaza Humanitarian Aid 

Palestinians flee from the city of Khan Younis in southern Gaza after an Israeli ground and air offensive on Monday, Jan. 29, 2024. (AP)
Palestinians flee from the city of Khan Younis in southern Gaza after an Israeli ground and air offensive on Monday, Jan. 29, 2024. (AP)

The UN Security Council called for urgent action to expand the flow of humanitarian aid to civilians in Gaza.

The council on Tuesday issued a statement expressing concern at "the dire and rapidly deteriorating humanitarian situation" in the conflict-wracked territory.

The council urged all parties to engage with the UN’s new humanitarian and reconstruction coordinator for Gaza, Sigrid Kaag. She is trying to accelerate aid deliveries to hundreds of thousands of civilians desperately in need of food, water, medicine and other assistance.

The brief council statement was read to reporters after the 15 council members met with Kaag behind closed doors.

Kaag later told reporters she was "very encouraged" by support from the council, which created her post to respond to the humanitarian conditions in Gaza. According to multiple UN agencies, more than half a million people in Gaza are facing "catastrophic hunger."

She also said the embattled UN agency serving Palestinian refugees is critical.

"No organization can replace or substitute the tremendous capacity, the fabric of UNRWA, the ability, and their knowledge of the population in Gaza," she stressed.

Many key donors, including the United States and Germany, suspended funding to UNRWA after an Israeli detailed allegations that 12 of its employees were involved in the Oct. 7 cross-border raid that triggered Israel’s war against Hamas.

The Israeli government has accused Hamas and other militant groups of siphoning off aid and using UN facilities for military purposes.

UNRWA denies those allegations and says it took swift action against the employees accused of taking part in the attack.

Meanwhile, the US State Department said it expects to resume funding to UNRWA provided it conducts a credible investigation into possible links between some of its employees and Hamas.

UN officials have warned that UNRWA will have to halt operations by the end of February if funding is not restored.

UNRWA is the biggest aid provider in Gaza, where Israel’s war against Hamas has displaced the vast majority of the population and plunged it into a humanitarian catastrophe. The US is the largest single donor, giving over $300 million, or one-quarter of the agency’s annual budget.

State Department Matthew Miller said Tuesday that the US had planned to send about $300,000 in the coming weeks but gave no details on when funding might be restored.

Israel has long claimed that Hamas uses UNRWA facilities to store weapons or launch attacks, and that agency employees teach hatred of Israel in their schools. UNRWA says it does not knowingly tolerate such behavior and has internal safeguards to prevent abuses and discipline wrongdoing.



Syrian Defense Ministry Announces Completion of Military Operations Against Assad Loyalists

Members of the Syrian Security Forces stop vehicles at a checkpoint following violence that occurred in the previous days during clashes between government forces and supporters of the former Syrian regime, in Jableh town of Latakia, Syria, 09 March 2025. (EPA)
Members of the Syrian Security Forces stop vehicles at a checkpoint following violence that occurred in the previous days during clashes between government forces and supporters of the former Syrian regime, in Jableh town of Latakia, Syria, 09 March 2025. (EPA)
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Syrian Defense Ministry Announces Completion of Military Operations Against Assad Loyalists

Members of the Syrian Security Forces stop vehicles at a checkpoint following violence that occurred in the previous days during clashes between government forces and supporters of the former Syrian regime, in Jableh town of Latakia, Syria, 09 March 2025. (EPA)
Members of the Syrian Security Forces stop vehicles at a checkpoint following violence that occurred in the previous days during clashes between government forces and supporters of the former Syrian regime, in Jableh town of Latakia, Syria, 09 March 2025. (EPA)

A Syrian military operation against loyalists of ousted former President Bashar al-Assad has been completed, the defense ministry said on Monday. 

Hassan Abdul Ghany, the defense ministry spokesperson, said in a statement on X that public institutions were now able to resume their work and provide essential services. 

"We are paving the way for life to return to normal and for the consolidation of security and stability," he said. 

He added that plans were in place to continue combating the remnants of the former government and eliminate any future threats. 

Syrian interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa vowed on Sunday to hunt down the perpetrators of the violent clashes and said he would hold to account anyone who overstepped the new rulers' authority. 

Al-Sharaa's office also said it was forming an independent committee to investigate the clashes and killings carried out by both sides. 

Abdul Ghany added that the security forces would cooperate with the investigation committee, offering full access to uncover the circumstances of the events, verify the facts and ensure justice for the wronged. 

"We were able to absorb the attacks from the remnants of the former regime and its officers. We shattered their element of surprise and managed to push them away from vital centers, securing most of the main roads," he said. 

Syrian security sources said over the weekend more than 300 of their members had been killed in clashes with former army personnel owing allegiance to Assad in coordinated attacks and ambushes on their forces that began on Thursday.  

Syria's state news agency SANA reported on Sunday that a mass grave had been discovered near Qardaha, Assad's hometown, containing the bodies of recently killed security forces.  

The attacks spiraled into revenge killings when thousands of armed supporters of Syria's new leaders from across the country descended to the coastal areas to support beleaguered forces of the new administration.