Pedersen expressed, in his monthly report to the Security Council, his concern about the humanitarian and political situation in the Arab country, with emphasis on the recent events in the Syrian province of Sweida.

He welcomed the joint efforts of the United States, Jordan and Syria to establish a working group to support the ceasefire, but warned that there continue to be pockets of violence around Sweida, undermining this understanding.

The special envoy noted that while Israeli air strikes have decreased following the agreement, the Israeli army continues to conduct military ground operations in southwestern Syria, which he described as “unacceptable”.

In this regard, he urged respect for the 1974 Disengagement Agreement and reaffirmed the need to preserve Syrian sovereignty and stability against any form of external occupation or interference.

Pedersen also reported on the worsening humanitarian situation in Sweida, with more than 186,000 displaced persons in that province, as well as in Deraa and rural Damascus, who are facing precarious conditions.

Jav/mem/fm