The Assad government fell on December 8, while control of the capital Damascus is claimed by the Syrian rebels. According to various reports, President Assad has left the country to Mosco, but the Syrian Prime Minister is still in the country and has announced his cooperation with the new Syrian leadership; meanwhile, the Syrian Foreign Ministry announced that it will continue to operate. The country is currently divided into three parts: 1) Areas from the northern border to the southern border, such as the most important cities Damascus, Aleppo and Hama are occupied by the Syrian rebels, Islamist rebel group Hayat Tahrir El Sham 1, led by Mohammed AI Jolani. 2) The northeast of the country beyond the Euphrates River are controlled by the Kurdish forces. 3) The important area Manbij is inhabited by Syrian National Army, which is close to Turkey.
UN representatives, Secretary-General of the United Nations and Geir Pedersen, appeal to manage the political transition in Syria, and emphasizing the importance of an orderly political transition led by Syrians (“Syria-led and Syria-owned”), also encouraging the Council to work to ensure that all parties cooperate with the UN, including its Special Envoy, in the spirit of the main elements of resolution 2254; as well as to avoid further violence against the civilian population. These including a nationwide ceasefire; an inclusive (gender sensitive and comprehensive political transition); respect for the legitimate aspirations of the Syrian people in all their diversity; respect for Syria’s sovereignty, unity, independence and territorial integrity; the holding of free elections; the protection of civilians; and the delivery of humanitarian aid.
Negotiation about the political transition in Syria may held in Geneva, which is available for all peace talks and initiatives under the aegis of the UN. All those with influence are encouraged to call on the new political forces on the ground to preserve the structures of the Syrian state, including the archives of all state services, in particular to preserve documentation in anticipation of processes of justice and accountability.
However, the collapse of Assad brought uncertainty to Israel, the Prime Minister of Irael Benjamin Netanyahu has commanded the armies to entry the Golan Heights buffer zone, which is patrolled by UN Peacekeeping Forces, and bomb military assets of Syria. This action has been accused by UN, pointing that all actors must respect the 1974 Agreement on the Disengagement of Forces, the acquisition of territory by force is prohibited by international law and that there should be no military forces or activities in the separation zone, other than those of UNDOF.
In the aspect of humanitarianism, parties should respect their obligations under international law, including for the protection of civilians (including humanitarian personnel) and civilian property, and the delivery of humanitarian aid, in order to avoid further suffering for civilians. Meanwhile, it is also important that emerging authorities maintaining local and national humanitarian responses (including the Syrian Arab Red Crescent), the Security Council should remain attentive to the humanitarian situation.
