Arab, Western Countries Press for Accountability in Syria

UN envoy Geir Pedersen with the envoys in Washington (US embassy on Twitter)
UN envoy Geir Pedersen with the envoys in Washington (US embassy on Twitter)
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Arab, Western Countries Press for Accountability in Syria

UN envoy Geir Pedersen with the envoys in Washington (US embassy on Twitter)
UN envoy Geir Pedersen with the envoys in Washington (US embassy on Twitter)

The Syrian revolution celebrates its 11th anniversary next week, yet the Syrian people continue to suffer from the "war machine" and fighting that have been ongoing since March 15, 2011, amid Arab and Western calls for a political solution to the crisis.

In a joint statement, 13 Arab and Western delegates agreed during a meeting in Washington to remain committed to the "pursuit of a political resolution to the Syrian crisis in accordance with UNSCR 2254 that will protect the rights and dignity of all Syrians."

The statement published by the US State Department stated that with the approach of the 11th commemoration of the peaceful Syrian uprising on March 15, "we acknowledge the continued suffering of the Syrian people, which is unacceptable and must end."

The participants reiterated their previous positions, calling for a nationwide ceasefire and respect for international humanitarian law, and stressing "the importance of unhindered access to life-saving humanitarian assistance through all modalities," including through the re-authorization of cross-border delivery of humanitarian assistance, to which there is no alternative, as well as "cross-line aid and early recovery projects consistent with UNSCR 2585."

The representatives of the Arab League, Egypt, the EU, France, Germany, Iraq, Jordan, Norway, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, the UK, and the US reaffirmed their support for the "unity and territorial integrity of Syria and our commitment to the fight against terrorism in all its forms and manifestations."

"We welcomed the briefing of UN Special Envoy Geir Pedersen, and took note of his efforts to build momentum, including through the step-for-step process, in accordance with our strong support to advance a comprehensive and inclusive political solution according to UNSCR 2254, as well as the implementation of all its aspects."

The representatives reiterated the need to reach concrete outcomes from the seventh round of the upcoming March session of Constitutional Committee, stressing "we will continue to press for accountability," especially for the most serious crimes perpetrated in Syria, including the use of chemical weapons, as well as to press for the release of the arbitrarily detained and a full accounting of the missing.

They also welcomed ongoing efforts to prosecute crimes committed in Syria. We urged continued support to Syrian refugees and host countries until "Syrians can voluntarily return home with safety and dignity in line with UNHCR standards."

Meanwhile, combating terrorism and the spread of terrorist and armed groups in Syrian society remains an issue that threatens the region and the international community. This comes in light of the lack of security and safety standards and the presence of foreign forces on the Syrian territory.

A report by the human rights organization Syrians for Truth and Justice, published by al-Monitor, lists 25 former ISIS terrorists currently serving within the Syrian National Army (SNA) ranks.

In a report published in June 2021, the group documented 27 fighters, including 11 officers, in the ranks of ISIS terrorist organization who are now serving in other military forces.

The founder of Syrians for Truth and Justice, Bassam al-Ahmed, said that whenever the organization publishes reports like this, Turkey and the armed groups claim they will investigate violations, but this is actually for the consumption of the media and nothing changes on the ground.

Ahmed told Monitor that the most dangerous thing is that the SNA controls detention centers in an area that Turkey claims is a safe area for civilians, but this area became safe for the "former ISIS members, not for civilians or the Kurds."

The 2021 report pointed to two SNA leaders from eastern Deir Ez-Zor helping ISIS fighters flee towards SNA-held areas, noting that tribal affiliation is a strong marker of identity in the region.



Israel Says Rockets Fired from Syria for the First Time Since Bashar Assad’s Fall 

An Israeli military vehicle is seen near the border between the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights and Syria, May 4, 2025. (Reuters)
An Israeli military vehicle is seen near the border between the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights and Syria, May 4, 2025. (Reuters)
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Israel Says Rockets Fired from Syria for the First Time Since Bashar Assad’s Fall 

An Israeli military vehicle is seen near the border between the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights and Syria, May 4, 2025. (Reuters)
An Israeli military vehicle is seen near the border between the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights and Syria, May 4, 2025. (Reuters)

The Israeli army said two rockets were fired from Syria into open areas in the Israel-occupied Golan Heights on Tuesday, marking the first time a strike has been launched toward Israel from Syrian territory since the fall of former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in December.

Syrian state media reported that Israel shelled the western countryside of Syria’s Daraa province after the rocket launch. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a UK-based war monitor, also reported Israeli airstrikes that caused “violent explosions” around the city of Quneitra and in the Daraa countryside.

A group calling itself the Mohammed Deif Brigades — named after a Hamas military leader killed by an Israeli strike in Gaza last year — claimed the attack in a post on Telegram. The group first surfaced on social media a few days before.

“Until now, it’s just a Telegram channel. It’s not known if it is a real group,” said Ahmed Aba Zeid, a Syrian researcher who has studied armed factions in southern Syria.

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said in a statement that Israel considers “the Syrian president directly responsible for every threat and firing toward the State of Israel” and warned of a “full response” to come “as soon as possible.”

Israel has been suspicious of the former opposition fighters who formed the new Syrian government, led by President Ahmed al-Sharaa, and has launched hundreds of airstrikes on Syria and seized a UN-patrolled buffer zone on Syrian territory since Assad’s fall.

Syria’s foreign ministry said in a statement carried by the state-run TV channel that it has “not yet verified the accuracy” of the reports of strikes launched from Syria toward Israel.

“We affirm that Syria has not and will not pose a threat to any party in the region,” the statement said. It condemned the Israeli shelling, which it said had resulted in “significant human and material losses.”

The US, which has warmed to al-Sharaa's government and recently moved to lift some sanctions previously imposed on Syria, has pushed for Syria to normalize relations with Israel.

In a recent interview with the Jewish Journal, al-Sharaa said he wants to see a return to a 1974 ceasefire agreement between the two countries but stopped short of proposing immediate normalization, saying that “peace must be earned through mutual respect, not fear.”