The UN Secretary-General believes that the events of the last 24 hours have brought the situation to a point where every hour the risk of further escalation increases

The most alarming moment of the conflict in Syria

UN/Evan Schneider - General Secretary António Guterres speaks to the press at UN headquarters about the latest developments in Syria

Naciones Unidas/Atalayar

02 de marzo de 2020 (14:15 h.)

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The Secretary General believes that the events of the last 24 hours have brought the situation to a point where every hour the risk of further escalation increases and warns that in the absence of an immediate ceasefire, the situation may get out of control. "Over the past few days, I have repeatedly warned of the risk of a serious escalation of hostilities in northwest Syria. And I fear that with the events of the last 24 hours, we have reached that point," the UN Secretary-General said last Friday, referring to the Turkish army's bombing of Syrian military targets following the death of 33 of its soldiers on Thursday during bombing by Syrian forces in Idlib.

António Guterres addressed the press at the UN building in New York to highlight the present as "one of the most alarming moments in the conflict in Syria", which will soon enter its tenth year. "Without urgent action, the risk of further escalation increases by the hour and, as always, civilians pay the highest price", he said, recalling that nearly a million people have fled their homes in the past three months.

Ceasefire urged before situation gets completely out of control

He warned that the knot that hangs the Syrians continues to tighten as the battle lines approach densely populated areas. "The most pressing need is for an immediate ceasefire before the situation gets completely out of hand. In all my contacts with those involved I have repeated a simple message: stay away from further escalation", he said.

"There is no military solution"

Guterres said that a decade of hostilities has brought nothing but ruin and misery. "There is no military solution. The only way forward is a political process facilitated by the UN and in line with Security Council resolution 2254," he said. That resolution calls for a ceasefire throughout Syrian territory. "Now is the time to give diplomacy a chance. A ceasefire is essential", he reiterated.

Guterres also urged protection of the civilian population, citing aerial bombardments of schools and medical facilities, as well as camps and settlements of displaced families seeking safety from the fire.

Responding to a question from reporters, the U.N. official said he has been in close contact with Turkish and Russian authorities to urge a cease-fire, adding that "no such agreement has yet been reached. "I hope we reach that point soon because the situation may get completely out of control", he insisted. He also said the U.N. is preparing a humanitarian mission to travel to Idlib, northwest Syria, to find out for sure what is happening in that part of the country.