Syria: Briefing and Consultations
Tomorrow morning (18 March), the Security Council will hold an open briefing on the political and humanitarian situations in Syria. Deputy Special Envoy for Syria Claudio Cordone and Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Joyce Msuya are expected to brief. The US, the Council president in March, has also invited a civil society representative to brief the Council. Tom Barrack, US Ambassador to Türkiye and Special Envoy for Syria, is expected to chair the meeting. Closed consultations are scheduled to follow the open briefing.
This month marks the 15th anniversary of the uprising that began in March 2011 in Damascus, which called for the ousting of then-President Bashar al-Assad, who was ultimately removed from power in December 2024. It also marks one year since the signing of the interim constitutional declaration on 13 March 2025 by interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa. Tomorrow, Cordone is expected to brief on political developments over the past year and update members on the ongoing transition process.
Developments in Syria in recent weeks have revealed continued fragility across the political, security, and humanitarian fronts. Cordone may provide details on his recent visit to Damascus in late February, where he met senior Syrian officials, including Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani and Minister of Justice Mazhar al-Awais. He might describe his conversations, including on the role of the UN in the political process and the possible relocation of the Special Envoy’s office from Geneva to Damascus. Cordone is also likely to highlight operational developments, including the security situation in the northeast and south, as well as conditions in the al-Hol camp.
Council members are likely to seek updates about the implementation of the agreement between the Syrian authorities and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which provides for the phased integration of the SDF into state institutions. Engagement between the two sides has continued, including discussions on integrating military and security structures and on prisoner exchanges.
As part of the redeployment formula agreed with the Syrian authorities, the SDF reportedly began a gradual withdrawal from al-Shuyoukh in the northern governorate of Aleppo in early March. Detainee exchanges have also reportedly taken place, with the Syrian government releasing 59 SDF fighters on 8 March, followed by a further exchange on 10 March that saw each side release 100 detainees. The Syrian presidential envoy overseeing the implementation of the agreement, Brigadier General Ziad al-Ayesh, was quoted as indicating that additional releases are expected in the next phase.
Council members are expected to express concern about continued insecurity affecting different parts of the country. For instance, media reports describe a series of attacks attributed to the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL/Da’esh) in eastern and northern parts of the country, resulting in the deaths of several members of the Syrian security forces. Reports also note continued attacks against Syrian security forces in the coastal province of Latakia by a militia group linked to the ousted Assad government known as Saraya al-Jawad.
Meanwhile, media reports citing senior White House officials suggest that the US intends to largely withdraw its troops from Syria over the coming months, with the Syrian government expected to assume greater responsibility for counter-terrorism operations. US forces reportedly began repositioning in late February, including the movement of personnel and equipment from the Qasrak base in Hasakah towards northern Iraq, and have already withdrawn from two bases in al-Tanf in the southeast and al-Shaddadi in the northeast.
On 27 February, the 1267/1989/2253 ISIL/Da’esh and Al-Qaida Sanctions Committee removed the Al-Nusrah Front for the People of the Levant, also known as Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), from its sanctions list. HTS, formerly affiliated with Al-Qaida, led a military campaign under Sharaa that resulted in Assad’s ouster.
Some members are also likely to address the human rights situation in Syria. On 13 March, the Independent International Commission of Inquiry (COI) on the Syrian Arab Republic released a report covering the period from 8 December 2024 to 31 January, outlining both progress and significant challenges as the country continues its transition towards inclusive governance, the rule of law, and accountability. The COI reported that in March 2025, government forces and affiliated actors killed more than 1,400 people, mostly Alawite civilians, in Latakia, Tartus, Homs, and Hama, while in July 2025, over 1,500 people, primarily Druze and Bedouin civilians, were killed in the southern city of Suweida in violence involving government forces, Druze armed groups, and tribal fighters.
The COI concluded that these violations may amount to war crimes and, subject to further investigation, could constitute crimes against humanity. It further underscored the need for comprehensive reform of the security sector and the judiciary, alongside disarmament, demobilisation, and reintegration (DDR) efforts. The Commission is also investigating recent allegations of violations in northeastern Syria following a spike in hostilities between government forces and the SDF, as well as Israel’s military operations in Syria.
Speakers at tomorrow’s meeting are also likely to address the impact on Syria of the regional escalation caused by the joint US-Israeli strikes on Iran that began on 28 February and Iran’s subsequent retaliation across the Middle East. The situation has had spillover effects, including intensified Israel-Hezbollah hostilities in Lebanon. Meanwhile, Israel has reportedly continued its operations in southern Syria in recent weeks, including ground incursions, artillery shelling, and the establishment of checkpoints.
Syrian territory has been affected by missile overflight and debris linked to fire exchanges between Iran and Israel. On 28 February, an Iranian missile reportedly hit a residential building in Suweida, killing four people and injuring several others, with additional debris reported in Quneitra and the Yarmouk Basin in the Daraa governorate. Similar incidents have been reported since the hostilities began, including in areas surrounding Damascus. The escalation has also had broader impacts, including the closure of Syrian airspace and wider economic disruptions, such as interruptions to natural gas supplies, which have led to increased electricity rationing.
Soon after the eruption of hostilities, Syria reinforced its border with Lebanon, including by deploying thousands of troops. Syrian officials have said that these measures are aimed at tightening border control to prevent arms and drug smuggling, as well as to block infiltration by Hezbollah and other militant groups. On 9 March, Syria’s military said that artillery shells fired from Lebanon landed near a town west of Damascus, accusing Hezbollah of targeting its positions and reporting the arrival of further Syrian troops along the Syrian-Lebanese border. Sharaa has also reportedly expressed support for the Lebanese government’s efforts to disarm Hezbollah, describing this objective as essential for regional stability.
Tomorrow, Msuya is expected to brief on the humanitarian situation in Syria, which remains marked by multifaceted challenges. She may provide an update on the humanitarian situation in the northeast following the escalation of hostilities between Syrian government forces and the SDF in January, including the response to humanitarian needs. According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), as at 11 March, around 106,000 people remain internally displaced as a result of these hostilities.
Msuya may also highlight efforts by the UN and its partners to deliver humanitarian assistance across the country as well as challenges they face, including those arising from the regional escalation, constraints on access, and the continued risks posed by explosive remnants of war and unexploded ordnance. According to the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), over 120,000 Syrian returnees and nearly 14,000 Lebanese fleeing the ongoing conflict have crossed into Syria. Overall, since Assad’s ouster, approximately 1.5 million individuals have returned to Syria from neighbouring countries.
Msuya may further call for sustained political and diplomatic engagement on Syria, emphasising the need to maintain momentum on recovery and development efforts, as well as increased investment and funding for humanitarian assistance. She is also likely to underscore the importance of concerted diplomacy to prevent further violence, and the need to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure.
