A one-year-old child is screened for malnutrition by a UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF)-supported health team in Syria.
This article is published in association with United Nations.
While the war in Gaza grinds on with dozens of civilians already reportedly killed and injured so far this year – and as the fragile ceasefire in Lebanon largely holds – hopes are still high for a successful transition of power in Damascus following the overthrow of the Assad regime exactly a month ago. Syria’s ambassador told the Security Council on Wednesday the “dawn of freedom has broken”. App users can catch up on the live coverage here.
That’s a wrap for today’s live coverage
The Security Council heard political and humanitarian updates on Syria and debated the role the international community should be playing in the crucial weeks and months ahead.
Syria’s ambassador called for sanctions against the Assad regime to be lifted so transitional authorities there can tackle the immense challenges facing a nation shattered by 14 years of war. Watch the full meeting below:
Production team: Daniel Johnson, Matt Wells, Dianne Penn, Pia Blondel, Daniel Dickinson, Steve DeCaul, Ana Carmo8 Jan 2025 08:07 pm.
Thank you for joining us
Today’s highlights:
- UN Special Envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen told the Council there have been “multiple reports of incidents of violence” particularly in the coastal region and Homs and Hama and there remains “very real threats to Syria’s sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity,” with the ISIL terror group a significant concern.
- Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher highlighted three critical humanitarian challenges: preserving and rebuilding the country’s services, prioritising protection of civilians and ensuring women and girls are not marginalised.
- He said aid efforts have been able to resume at a greater scale – as the situation has stabilised. This is crucial with some 15 million Syrians needing health services, close to 13 million facing acute food insecurity and more than 620,000 Syrians still displaced amid the harsh winter.
- Iran highlighted the presence of over 60 armed groups, including foreign terrorist fighters “with divergent and often conflicting agendas.”
- The US Ambassador affirmed the country will make sure its sanctions on Syria do not impede activities aiming to meet basic humanitarian needs.
- On the other hand, the Syrian Ambassador called on the US and other States to lift restrictive measures which targeted the previous regime as Syria is committed to improving conditions for its populations.
- Finally, Mr. Aldahhak stressed “the need to ensure that Israeli occupation entities do not take advantage of the current circumstances to violate Syria’s sovereignty,” underscoring the importance of respecting relevant Security Council resolutions.
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8 Jan 2025 07:55 pm.
Highlights from the UN Spokesperson’s news briefing
Gaza:
- The UN humanitarian affairs office, OCHA, reports that Palestinian civilians endure horrific levels of violence amid continued hostilities across Gaza, with UN children’s agency UNICEF noting that at least 74 children have been killed so far this month.
- The New Year has brought more death and suffering to the children of Gaza due to attacks, deprivation and growing exposure to the cold, said UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Rusell.
- More than a million children are living in makeshift tents in Gaza, where the UN and partners are doing whatever they can with the supplies that are available to provide shelter support to displaced Palestinians.
- Between 22 December 2024 and 04 January 2025, aid partners assisted more than 2,000 families in central and southern Gaza with tents and sealing off material. Roughly 200 families in Gaza governorate also received assistance.
UNRWA
- Meanwhile, the Israeli authorities continue to deny UN-led efforts to reach North Gaza governorate, where Palestinians have been under siege for more than 90 days, according to OCHA. Another attempt to reach besieged areas on Tuesday to deliver critical humanitarian assistance was denied.
- Across Gaza. Israeli authorities facilitated only four out of eight of UN requests for coordinated humanitarian movements. The rest were either denied or canceled due to security or logistical challenges.
8 Jan 2025 07:31 pm
Syria calls for lifting of all sanctions
Syria’s Ambassador Koussay Aldahhak called on Members of the UN to “respect the will of the Syrian people and its national choices.”
For this reason, he called upon the UN and its member states to “immediately and fully lift unilateral coercive measures, to provide the necessary financing to meet humanitarian needs and recover basic services” and “to rehabilitate and reconstruct the damaged facilities and ensure demining.”
OCHA
As the country is committed to improving conditions following 14 years of brutal conflict, he called on the US and other States to lift restrictive measures which targeted the previous regime.
Warning to Israel
Finally, he had a message for Israel in the Golan, which has enlarged and extended its presence there since the regime fell a month ago.
“Syria stresses the need to ensure that Israeli occupation entities do not take advantage of the current circumstances to violate Syria’s sovereignty in an attempt to impose a new reality through their military incursion to new parts of Syria,” he said, underscoring the importance of respecting relevant Security Council resolutions. 8 Ιαν 2025 07:18 μ.μ.
One month on, ‘the dawn of freedom has broken in Syria’
The Syrian Arab Republic Ambassador Koussay Aldahhak began his statement by stating that “following the victory of the Syrian people, Syria is entering a new era of its history where all Syrians come together to build a state of freedom, equality and rule of law.”
To that end, the Ambassador urged “support from the international community to Syrians and their State in their quest to build a better future for their country,” emphasising the de facto authorities are committed “to maintaining the independence, sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity of Syria.”
UN News
He affirmed that the country is currently preparing for a national dialogue conference to discuss the next phase and establish a transitional government to oversee national processes including the drafting of the constitution and the holding of elections.
Call for ‘friendly relations’
Ms. Adahhak further expressed the will of Syria “to build friendly relations based on mutual respect, constructive cooperation and shared interest away from the policies of polarisation” with other Member States.
“Syrian authorities also stressed that the new Syria is willing to play a positive role on the international arena,” he said, adding that “it will be a positive contributor to the promotion of international peace and security and it will not engage in any conflict or war.”8 Ιαν 2025 07:13 μ.μ.
Iran: Terrorism a ‘serious and escalating concern’
UN News
The resurgence of terrorism in Syria, particularly the covert operations of sleeper cells linked to Al-Qaeda and ISIL, “remains a serious and escalating concern,” Iran’s Ambassador Amir Saeid Iravani told the Council.
He said the terrorist groups “retain the potential to reconnect and reignite terrorism across the region.”
He said the presence of over 60 armed groups, including foreign terrorist fighters “with divergent and often conflicting agendas” compounded the crisis, deepening instability and posing a severe threat to both regional and global security.
He added that “the fate of the thousands of ISIL-affiliated fighters held in camps and prisons in northeastern Syria is a pressing challenge that demands urgent action.”
On the political transition Mr. Iravani said that Iran continues to advocate for the formation of “an inclusive government through free and fair elections and a comprehensive national dialogue that ensures representation for all ethnic, political, and religious groups.”8 Ιαν 2025 06:46 μ.μ.
In Saudi Arabia, UNRWA chief discusses potential impact of Israeli Knesset bills
Algeria: ‘Hope and renewal’
UN News
Speaking on behalf of the A3+ group which includes Guyana, Sierra Leone, Somalia and his own country, Algeria, Ambassador and current President of the Security Council, Amar Bendjama said that after “almost 14 years of devastating conflict,” the international community must support the aspirations of the Syrian people to “build a future of hope and renewal.”
This includes, he said, “support for an inclusive, Syrian-owned and Syrian-led political process under UN auspices,” where the country’s “unity, independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity” is upheld without “external interference.”
He noted that the A3+ group remains “gravely concerned about Israel’s actions in the occupied Syrian Golan Heights and its incursions in other parts of Syria.”
He called for “decisive, coordinated action against terrorism in Syria,” in close coordination with national authorities adding that “genuine collaboration and constructive dialogue are essential to achieving the new Syria.”8 Ιαν 2025 06:35 μ.μ.
UK: ‘A moment of hope for the future of Syria’
UN News
The United Kingdom Ambassador Barbara Woodward began her statement by calling on “all involved to focus on the opportunity to build a democratic state, representative of Syria’s rich diversity and to take the necessary steps to establish participation across all of Syria’s society.”
Acknowledging the announcement of timelines for drafting a new constitution and the holding of elections, she shared that the UK is “encouraged by early engagement with the international community,” calling for continued cooperation with the UN.
Moreover, Ms. Woodward called on all parties to cease activity that could “lead to further escalation or suffering for the civilian population and to protect vulnerable, displaced populations,” highlighting that the UK has committed a further $76 million to support vulnerable Syrians both in Syria and across the region.
Finally, she pointed to the chemical weapons used by the Assad regime “against its own citizens” and called for their elimination. “I encourage members of this Council to support cooperation between the interim authorities and the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), to ensure these appalling weapons can never be used again,” she concluded. 8 Ιαν 2025 06:33 μ.μ.
‘Zero tolerance’ towards terrorism, essential: China
China’s Ambassador Fu Cong had four points to make in the meeting. First he said a Syrian led and owned process was essential and it’s up to Syrians themselves to chart a future, in line with international law.
He said China expected an open and inclusive political settlement process to begin soon. “China supports a greater role for the UN and Special Envoy Pedersen in that process,” he added.
Second, there must be zero tolerance towards terrorism within Syria’s borders. Third, Syria’s humanitarian crisis must be addressed by the UN, speeding up aid.
Finally, the Golan is recognised as Syrian territory, with Israel’s occupation of the mountainous region “null and void”. Ambassador Cong said Syria’s sovereignty must be respected.
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