UN Special Envoy Reports Israel-Hamas Conflict Impacting Syria, Exacerbating Regional Instability

The ongoing war between Israel and Hamas is beginning to affect Syria, adding another layer of complexity to the already volatile situation in the region, according to remarks by Geir Pedersen, the United Nations Special Envoy for Syria, on Monday.

Addressing the UN Security Council, Pedersen indicated that the Syrian people are confronting not only the violence that has been part of their 12-year-long conflict, but also the “daunting possibility of a broader escalation” in the wake of Hamas’ attacks on Israel on October 7 and the subsequent military responses.

Pedersen noted that the spillage of the Israel-Hamas conflict into Syria is not merely a potential future risk but has already occurred. He cited instances of Israeli airstrikes targeting Syria’s airports in Aleppo and Damascus, as well as the U.S. retaliating against attacks on its forces “by entities it asserts are supported by Iran, including within Syrian borders.”

The situation is “at its most perilous and fraught,” Pedersen added, and is further exacerbating tensions in Syria, which had already been experiencing increased levels of violence prior to October 7. Pedersen reported that the toll of Syrian casualties, both fatal and non-fatal, has reached its highest point since 2020, alongside a noticeable uptick in attacks in areas controlled by the Syrian government. He pointed to an unsolved attack on a military academy graduation ceremony in Homs, which the government has attributed to terrorist organizations.

Additionally, Pedersen observed that there had been a marked increase in rocket attacks by the Syrian government against Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, a group controlling much of the rebel-held northwest of Syria. He also reported a significant escalation of Turkish military activity in northeast Syria following an attack on Turkish governmental facilities in Ankara, resulting in dozens of fatalities and causing more than 120,000 civilians to flee.

U.S. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield accused terrorist entities, some supported by Syria and Iran, of potentially widening the conflict in Gaza by plotting and initiating attacks on Israel from Syrian territory. She urged the Syrian government to limit the operations of Iran-backed militias and cease actions that escalate tensions in the Golan Heights.

Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia of Russia, a close ally of Syria, denounced both Israeli and U.S. military activities in Syria, describing them as “unlawful actions” and “flagrant violations of Syria’s sovereignty.” He expressed concern that such actions could precipitate broader regional instability.

Iran’s U.N. Ambassador, Amir Iravani, dismissed all accusations from the U.S., clarifying that Iran’s presence in Syria was requested by Damascus for counter-terrorism efforts. Iravani accused the U.S. and certain Western nations of being part of the problem due to their “unwavering support” for Israel. He stated that while Iran seeks to avoid escalation in the region, it would retaliate against any threat to its security.

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More about Israel-Hamas Conflict in Syria

• UN Special Envoy for Syria
• Israel-Hamas Conflict
• U.S. Foreign Policy in Syria
• Russian Foreign Policy in Syria
• Iranian Foreign Policy in Syria
• Situation in Golan Heights
• Syrian Civil War
• Hayat Tahrir al-Sham
• Turkey’s Military Operations in Syria