A senior UN official on Tuesday urged the Security Council to
work to avert further escalation in the Middle East following the
deadly airstrike on the Iranian consulate in Syria's capital,
Damascus.
Briefing ambassadors a day after the attack,
Assistant-Secretary-General Khaled Khiari stressed the need for
restraint.
“We appeal to the Council today, as we do every month, to
continue to actively engage all concerned parties to prevent
further escalation and the worsening of tensions that undermine
regional peace and security,” he said.
Respect diplomatic premises
UN Secretary-General António
Guterres has condemned the attack, his
Spokesperson said on
Tuesday, reaffirming that the principle of the inviolability of
diplomatic and consular premises and personnel must be respected
in all cases.
The UN chief reminded all parties to respect all their
obligations under international law, and urged all concerned to
avoid attacks that could harm civilians and damage civilian
infrastructure.
Mr. Khiari said Iran sent identical letters to the
Secretary-General and the Security Council on
Monday stating that Israel had attacked its
diplomatic premises in Damascus, killing at least
five personnel, including senior military advisors, and injuring
others.
Subsequent media reports indicate that the death toll has risen
to 13 - seven Iranian personnel and six Syrian citizens, he
added, before reiterating the Secretary-General's
condemnation.
Uphold territorial integrity
“The sovereignty and territorial integrity of Member
States must be respected in accordance with
international law,” said Mr. Khiari, whose portfolio straddles
political and peacebuilding affairs as well as peace operations.
“The rules-based international order is essential for
international peace and security, which this Council is mandated
to maintain.”
He recalled that the UN Special Envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen,
has kept the Council apprised of the unrelenting violence in the
country, which recently marked 13 years of war.
Six foreign armies are operating on Syrian territory impacting
the lives of civilians and putting a peaceful resolution of the
conflict farther out of reach.
Increase in attacks
“Among them, increasingly lethal attacks on Iran-linked targets
in Syria have been attributed to Israel, especially since the
current conflict with Hamas in Gaza began on 7
October. Open sources have reported at least a dozen
such attacks since the beginning of this year,” he said.
“While Israel has rarely claimed responsibility for any of these
incidents, its officials have repeatedly acknowledged its
military operations in Syria and have suggested that more such
operations will occur in the future,” he added, underlining the
need for the Council's continued engagement.
Mr. Khiari concluded by underscoring the Secretary-General's
appeal for restraint.
“Any miscalculation could lead to broader conflict in an
already volatile region, with devastating consequences
for civilians who are already seeing unprecedented suffering in
Syria, Lebanon, the Occupied Palestinian Territory, and the
broader Middle East,” he said.
Mr. Pedersen, the UN Envoy for Syria, also warned against the
dangers of miscalculation in a statement on
Tuesday condemning the attack.
"At a time of heightened violence and dangers in the region,
instead of escalations, actors should be strictly respecting
their obligations under international law. It is vital that
all concerned exercise utmost restraint and avoid further
escalation," he said.
