Syria’s fragile political transition has gained fresh momentum with a landmark agreement between Damascus and Kurdish authorities in the northeast, but renewed violence in the south, Israeli incursions, and deep humanitarian needs underscore how precarious the path to stability remains, senior United Nations (UN) officials told the Security Council Friday, according to a UN statement. Briefing ambassadors for the first time as Deputy Special Envoy, Claudio Cordone pointed to the January 30 ceasefire and integration agreement between the Syrian Government and the Syrian Democratic Forces as a potentially transformative development.
The deal provides for a phased military and administrative integration of northeast Syria and includes provisions on the return of displaced people and the protection of Kurdish civil and educational rights, building on Presidential Decree 13 on linguistic, cultural, and citizenship rights. “Hostilities have ended and work on an implementation plan has been progressing in a positive manner,” Cordone said, noting deployments of Ministry of Interior forces in Al-Hasakeh and Qamishli, and discussions on local governance and political appointments.
While the northeast has seen relative stabilization, tensions persist elsewhere. In Sweida, renewed clashes between Government forces and local armed groups have caused damage and electricity outages. In southern Syria, Israeli incursions and search operations have continued, alongside reports of aerial herbicide spraying damaging crops. The UN envoy called for full respect for international law and urged Israel to withdraw from areas it occupies in violation of the 1974 Disengagement of Forces Agreement.
Humanitarian conditions remain severe despite modest improvements. Lisa Doughten, Director of Financing at the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, said recent clashes displaced tens of thousands. Although many have returned, about 130,000 people remain uprooted across Al-Hasakeh, Ar-Raqqa, and Aleppo governorates. More than 90 percent are women and girls, with many sheltering in overcrowded camps or with host families already under strain.
Politically, the next milestone in the transition is the formation of the People’s Assembly. Cordone reiterated the importance of meaningful representation of Syria’s regions and diverse groups, highlighting the extraordinary role of Syrian women and civil society over the decade-long conflict.
