Geir O. Pedersen, the United Nations special envoy for Syria, has urged Israel to halt its strikes on the country as it transitions following 50 years of Assad rule. Rebel forces recently seized control of Damascus, toppling President Bashar al-Assad.
During a speech at the United Nations in Geneva, Pedersen emphasized the need for Israel to cease its movements and bombardments in Syrian territory, stressing the significance of this action.
Israel confirmed on Monday that it targeted Syria's chemical weapons capabilities and deployed troops to the buffer zone separating the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights from the rest of Syria. Additionally, Israel has established a 'security zone' further inside Syrian territory.
As the leadership of Syria remains uncertain, Pedersen highlighted that Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) is the primary rebel group, but there is a diverse array of factions that lack formal unity and must collaborate.
Pedersen expressed that the fall of the Assad regime caught many by surprise, including the rebel groups themselves. He noted that even the armed groups now in control of Damascus were taken aback by the swift turn of events.
