UNITED NATIONS — United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Thursday (Dec 19) condemned Israeli airstrikes on Syria as violations of the nation's sovereignty and territorial integrity, calling for an immediate halt to such actions.

Following a swift rebel offensive that removed Syrian President Bashar al-Assad earlier this month, Israel has launched numerous airstrikes targeting strategic weapons and military infrastructure, according to Israeli statements. "Syria’s sovereignty, territorial unity, and integrity must be fully respected, and all acts of aggression must cease without delay," Guterres told reporters.

Israeli forces have also entered a demilitarized zone between Syria and the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, established after the 1973 Arab-Israeli war and monitored by UN peacekeepers. While Israeli officials described the incursion as a limited, temporary measure for border security, they did not specify a timeline for withdrawal. "There should be no military presence in the area of separation except for UN peacekeepers — period," Guterres emphasized. "Israel and Syria must adhere to the 1974 Disengagement of Forces Agreement, which remains fully in effect."

The Secretary-General highlighted the United Nations' focus on facilitating an "inclusive, credible, and peaceful" political transition in Syria while addressing the severe humanitarian crisis impacting millions.

"This is a pivotal moment — one filled with hope and historic potential, but also great uncertainty," he said, cautioning against exploitation of the situation by various actors. "The international community has a duty to stand by the Syrian people, who have endured immense suffering. Syria’s future must be determined by its people, for its people, with our collective support," he added.

Guterres also announced the appointment of Mexican lawyer Karla Quintana as the head of the Independent Institution on Missing Persons in Syria, underscoring the importance of enabling her team to fulfill its mandate. Established by the UN General Assembly in 2023, the institution seeks to uncover the fate of missing individuals and provide support to victims, survivors, and their families.

Quintana, previously leading Mexico’s National Search Commission for missing persons, has a background with the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights.

The International Commission on Missing Persons in The Hague has reported preliminary data suggesting up to 66 mass grave sites in Syria, though these remain unverified. Over 150,000 individuals are reported missing by international and Syrian organizations, including the United Nations and the Syrian Network for Human Rights.

Syria's civil war began in 2011 following a harsh government crackdown on peaceful pro-democracy protests, resulting in millions fleeing the country and millions more displaced internally.

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