The United Nations continues to monitor developments in northeast Syria following clashes between government troops and the Kurdish-led SDF militia during which scores of detained ISIL militants reportedly escaped from prison.
At least five civilians have been killed and some 30,000 people displaced following renewed fighting in Aleppo, Syria, prompting calls from the UN for immediate de-escalation and a return to political talks.
A year after the fall of the Assad regime opened the door to political and judicial reform, Syrias future is still precarious.
Secretary-GeneralAntnio Guterresisfollowing thecontinuingviolencewith great concern, Deputy UN Spokesperson Farhan Haqsaidon Tuesday in New York.
The Secretary-Generalcalledfor full respect for international law andthe protection of civilianswhile also stressingthe importance of securing detention facilities.
He urged the parties to continue dialogue, move forward in goodfaith,and work together to secure the implementation of all agreements.
Fearing forfamilies
The UN human rights office,OHCHR,wasconcerned about reports of renewed fighting between the Syrian Army and the SDF, despite the 18 January ceasefire agreement,SpokespersonRavina Shamdasani saidearlierin Geneva.
Rolando Gmez of the UN Information Service (UNIS) there described theoverallsituation asworrying,in particular the damage to critical infrastructure.
He expressed concern for families unable to leave conflict areas and those who have been newly displaced.
A fragile transition
Syriaremainson a fragile path to political transition following thefall of theAssad regime in December 2024 andnearly 14yearsof civil war.
Thetransitional governmenthas been taking back territory in the northeastunder Kurdish controland fighting has occurredinAleppo, Raqqa,Deir-ez-Zorand AlHassakehgovernorates.
Speaking in New York, Syrias UN ambassadorIbrahimOlabitold journalists that the government and the SDF had reached a common understanding on severalissuesregardingthe futureofAlHassakehgovernorate.
The SDF will be granted afour-day period for internal consultationsto develop a detailed plan for the practical mechanisms for integrating the area, he said during a media stakeout at UN Headquarters.
Syrian troops will not enter AlHassakeh and Qamishli cities and will remain on their outskirts until a plan is finalised.
ISIL detention camps
Northeast Syria is home toseveral prisonsholdingthousands of ISILfighters. The terrorist group, also known as Daesh, once controlled large swaths of the country andneighbouringIraq in itsattempttoestablishan Islamist caliphate,committingmass executions, rape,forced recruitmentand other atrocitiesalong the way.
Tens of thousands ofcivilianswith suspected ties to themilitants,mainlywomenand children,are housed in separatedetention campssuch asnotoriousAl-Hol camp home to over 30,000 people.
Ceasefireand clashes
Theceasefireannounced on Sunday followedweeks ofdeadly fighting. The truce callsforthe authoritiesto take over SDF-controlled areas and for its forces tobe integratedinto the national army, among other points.
Clashesresumed a day later during whichroughly 120ISILfightersescaped from theprison in Al-Shaddadicity,according to media reports,thoughmosthave been captured.
Ms. Shamdasani recalled that OHCHR has longstatedthat any integration of security forces intoSyrianState institutions, particularly SDF forces,must take place within a proper human rights-based vetting processto ensure that any individuals involved in human rights violations or abuses are not integrated.
Humanitarian support
Meanwhile, humanitarians have beenproviding assistanceinthe four affectedgovernorates, incluidng trauma care, water and hygiene support, and psychosocial support, the UN aid coordination officeOCHAreportedon Monday.
Public services have been suspendedinDeir-ez-Zorcityand key transport routes temporarily closed,leaving civilians cutoff from education and healthcare.
Furthermore, damage to critical infrastructureinRaqqa cityhas curtailed access betweenneighbourhoodsand disrupted the main water supply.
OCHA noted thatpeople continue to flee Raqqa and Tabqacities, as well asThawratown,and are headingtowards AlHassakehand Qamishli governorates.
Hundreds of familiesremainunable to leave Tabqa and areshelteringin public facilities.
Assessments are underway todeterminepeoples needsashumanitarians continue tocall for sustained, safe accesstothe population.
