Geir Pedersen, Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Syria, warned on Tuesday that the situation in Syria is extremely fluid and dangerous, as a vast swathe of territory has come under the control of non-state actors.
At a briefing to the Security Council on the situation in the country, Pedersen also cautioned that developments may lead to the resurgence of ISIS.
“Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham (HTS) and armed opposition groups are gaining ground, advancing very close to Hama – a major city of some 1 million people,” he said.
In addition, the envoy warned of the potential for conflict on other axes in Syria, adding that further military escalation risks mass displacement and civilian casualties.
“I appeal to all parties to their obligations under international law to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure and allow safe passage for Syrians fleeing violence,” Pedersen told the Council.
He then urged deescalation and a rapid move to a serious political process to avoid a deepening of the crisis that threatens the territorial integrity and safety of Syria.
“If we do not see deescalation and a rapid move to a serious political process, involving the Syrian parties and the key international players, then I fear we will see a deepening of the crisis,” he said.
Pederson then revealed that he will return to the region “soon,” and he expressed his readiness to use his good offices to convene international and Syria stakeholders in new and comprehensive peace talks on Syria.
The envoy asked that deescalation be accompanied by a credible political horizon for the Syrian people
Over the past few days, armed factions in northwestern Syria led by the HTS launched a military assault against pro-Assad forces, seizing Aleppo and Idlib. They continue to advance towards the city of Hama.
