Outlining the current conflict in Syria, with the escalation of violence “from both sides”, the UN’s Special Envoy for Syria warned of the dangers of military escalation in the region, including the likely re-emergence of ISIS.
“Escalating dynamics are taking place, and this is worrying and dangerous,” envoy Geir Pedersen said.
Conflict between Turkey, armed Syrian opposition groups and the Syrian Democratic Forces is escalating across northern Syria, he explained, and violence is also spilling over into Turkish territory.
The SDF report that Turkey’s Claw Sword Aerial Operation has targeted civilian infrastructure and resulted in civilian casualties. With a balanced approach, Pedersen said there were also reports of SDF strikes on Turkish forces, armed opposition-controlled areas, and inside of Turkish territory, also reportedly resulting in civilian casualties.
The UN Special Envoy called for immediate reduction of tensions. “Let me stress,” he said. “Turkey, the armed opposition, and the SDF, should de-escalate now.”
Pedersen went on to illustrate that de-escalation is required throughout the whole of Syria, as well as in the North and East Syria autonomous region. The situation in al-Hol camp also remains of grave concern, he added.
“The trend lines are deeply worrying and carry real dangers of further escalation. Let me warn the security council of the scenario where a large-scale military operation by one actor will then have knock on affects across all other theatres, unravelling the strategic stalemate that has brought a measure of relative calm for almost three years. Such an escalation would not only compound the devastating harm already metered out to Syrian civilians, but it would also further endanger regional stability,” said the UN envoy.
Also on the agenda was the likely re-emergence of terrorist groups likely to take advantage of any fresh instability in the region. These listed terrorist groups are “subdued but not defeated”, he warned.
In a recent White House briefing, US Security Council coordinator John Kirby said Washington did not want any actions to harm anti-ISIS efforts in the region. On 25 November, two rockets hit a Global Coalition Against ISIS base, inhibiting the ability of internal security forces to detain ISIS affiliates.
Farhad Shami from the SDF confirmed that ISIS mercenaries have fled from the al-Hol camp as a result of Turkish attacks on the region.
Terrorism expert Munir Edib went further to suggest that the purpose of the Turkish state’s latest military attacks against the SDF was in fact to deliberately resurrect ISIS by creating chaos in prisons and camps.
Meanwhile, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan remains defiant in his execution of the latest round of cross-border attacks, as tension grows that the “preparatory” airstrikes seen since 19 November are imminently about to escalate in to a full scale ground incursion.
“Our determination to take the borders of our country under a 30-kilometre security strip continues. While taking steps concerning the security of our homeland and our people, we do not take permission from anyone, nor are we held accountable to anyone,” said Erdoğan.
