UN Describes Damascus sectarian killings as ‘unacceptable’

The UN’s special envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen, has condemned recent sectarian violence in Damascus and Israeli strikes on the capital as “unacceptable,” Arab News reported. The violence erupted in the Druze-majority towns of Ashrafiyat Sahnaya and Jaramana, where clashes killed at least 30 people, including civilians. Fighting began when gunmen attacked a security checkpoint in Ashrafiyat Sahnaya, following an earlier clash in Jaramana.

Syrian security forces responded by closing roads and deploying armed personnel to restore order. Compounding tensions, Israel launched strikes near Damascus, targeting what Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described as an “extremist group” planning attacks on the Druze community. One strike killed a Syrian security officer. Israel’s Chief of Staff, Maj. Gen. Eyal Zamir, warned of further strikes on Syrian government sites if violence continued.

Pedersen called for respect of Syria’s sovereignty and urged all parties to pursue dialogue and trust-building to reduce tensions. He emphasized the need to protect civilians and prevent further sectarian conflict, highlighting the Syrian people’s desire for peace and political transition amid ongoing suffering.