Islamic State hits back, aided by power vacuum in Iraq and Syria
One AmericaMAR 14 2022
UN Special Envoy to Syria Geir Pedersen told the Security Council on Monday that the threat of violence from the Islamic State (IS) group is "resurging," as the 13-year-long civil war in the country continues to drag on.
Pederson warned that "conflict, complexity and division" still reigned in Syria, and that the risk of violent escalation is "undiminished." Pederson cited two Israeli airstrikes in Syria and a potential escalation of their conflict with Lebanon as grounds for concern.Pederson warned that "conflict, complexity and division" still reigned in Syria, and that the risk of violent escalation is "undiminished." Pederson cited Israeli airstrikes in Syria and a potential escalation of their conflict with Lebanon as grounds for concern.
Director of the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs’ (OCHA) Coordination Division, Ramesh Rajasingham told the Security Council that 16M need humanitarian assistance and that 7.2M remain displaced, with women and children being the most affected.
The path to a safe Syria does not run through the brutal Assad regime. Feeling the pressures of hosting refugees, Middle Eastern countries have turned to forceful deportations back to Syria and have made a half-hearted attempt to rehabilitate Assad. Meanwhile, Syria has turned into a criminal state involved in drug trafficking and has let it self be used as a tool of Iran. The fight against Assad must continue.