In a major development that has changed the geopolitical landscape of the Middle East, the Bashar al-Assad regime in Syria collapsed in a matter of days in the face of a sudden challenge by rebel forces, just after a cease-fire was declared between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon. The rapid collapse and Israel’s concern over the intentions of the radical Islamist elements within the rebel groups led Israel to create a buffer zone along the Golan Heights and to conduct a rapid air and naval campaign to destroy the strategic weaponry of the former Syrian regime. It is far from clear how the situation in Syria will unfold.
Reports:
- Meir Amit Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center
- Institute for the Study of War
Significant Occurrences
The Security Council renewed the mandate of the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) in the Golan Heights for six months until 31 December 2025.
- Meetings Coverage (SC/16106)
- Resolution 2782 (2025)
- Minutes of the Meeting
- Report of the Secretary-General (3 Jun 2025)
-
- Executive Order 14312 (30 Jun 2025)
- White House Fact Sheet, President Donald J. Trump Provides for the Revocation of Syria Sanctions (30 Jun 2025)
- U.S. Department of State, Termination of Syria Sanctions (30 Jun 2025)
- U.S. Department of the Treasury, Treasury Implements President’s Termination of Syria Sanctions (30 Jun 2025)
The Deputy Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Syria warned that “Syria simply cannot withstand another wave of instability”.
- Meetings Coverage (SC/16090)
- Minutes of the Meeting
Along with lifting sanctions, Trump urged Syria to do five things, according to Karoline Leavitt, the White House press secretary, on X:
1. Sign onto the Abraham Accords with Israel
2. Tell all foreign terrorists to leave Syria
3. Deport Palestinian terrorists
4. Help the United States to prevent the resurgence of ISIS
5. Assume responsibility for ISIS detention centers in northeast Syria
- AP, Trump says he will ease sanctions on Syria and move to restore relations with new leader (13 May 2025)
- Al Jazeera, US decision to lift sanctions on Syria: Here’s what you need to know (13 May 2025
- Jerusalem Post, Israel defends Syrian Druze with airstrike on extremist group near As-Suweida (30 Apr 2025)
- Times of Israel, Sa’ar: World must intervene in Syria to defend Druze from regime’s ‘terrorist gangs’ (1 May 2025)
The Security Council discussed the fragile situation in Syria.
- Meetings Coverage (SC/16049)
- Minutes of the Meeting
The Security Council discussed Israel’s actions in Syria. Israel’s representative defended those actions at the meeting.
The Security Council heard of the need for accountability and economic recovery in Syria and discussed Israel’s presence in the country.
- Meetings Coverage (SC/16028)
- Minutes of the Meeting
The Security Council condemned the widespread violence perpetrated in Syria’s Latakia and Tartus provinces since 6 Mar 2025.
- Meetings Coverage (SC/16020)
- Presidential Statement (S/PRST/2025/4)
- Minutes of the Meeting
The Security Council heard a report from the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Syria concerning political developments in Syria.
- Meetings Coverage (SC/15991)
- Minutes of the Meeting
Security Council discusses “ways to ensure steps bring positive change for region”.
- Meetings Coverage (SC/15970)
- Minutes of the Meeting
- Minutes of the Meeting, Resumption 1 (20 Jan 2025)
- Minutes of the Meeting, Resumption 2 (24 Jan 2025)
- Remarks by the Israeli Representative
The Security Council heard calls for the backing of the Syrian people after the fall of the Assad regime.
- Meetings Coverage (SC/15961)
- Minutes of the Meeting
The Security Council renewed the mandate of the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) in the Golan for six months until 30 Jun 2025.
- Meetings Coverage (SC/15951)
- Resolution 2766 (2024)
- Minutes of the Meeting
A convention of dignitaries from the Druze village of Hadar in the Syrian Golan called to join the Israeli Golan.
- Jerusalem Post, Syrian Druze call to be annexed to Israel: ‘What’s our fate, brothers?’ (15 Dec 2024)
- i24 News, IDF meets Syrian Druze leaders after call to join Israel (15 Dec 2024)
- EU Today, Syrian Druze Villages Seek Annexation by Israel Amid Regional Uncertainty (13 Dec 2024)
- Hungarian Conservative, Druze Leaders in Syria Request Their Settlements Be Annexed to Israel (16 Dec 2024)
The IDF, on 8 December and continuing for several days, struck strategic weapons stockpiles in Syria, to prevent them from falling into the hands of terrorist elements.
- IDF Press Release (12 Dec 2024)
- Institute for the Study of War (8 Dec 2024)
- Meir Amit Center (9-16 Dec 2024)
- Post on X (Twitter) (8 Dec 2024)
- Post on Telegram (8 Dec 2024)
The IDF stated that the deployments were a defensive and temporary operation to protect Israel from possible instability in Syria resulting from the fall of the Syrian regime.
- Statement by Prime Minister Netanyahu (8 Dec 2024)
- Institute for the Study of War (8 Dec 2024)
- Meir Amit Center (9-16 Dec 2024)
- Le Monde, Netanyahu says Israeli troops will occupy a buffer zone inside Syria for the foreseeable future (18 Dec 2024)
The IDF stated that the deployments were a defensive and temporary operation to protect Israel from possible instability in Syria resulting from the fall of the Syrian regime.
- Jerusalem Post, End of an era: Rebels, Syrian army declare fall of Assad regime (8 Dec 2024)
- Institute for the Study of War, Report (8 Dec 2024)
- Meir Amit Center, Report (2-9 Dec 2024)
- Arab Center Washington DC, Deciphering the Quick Collapse of the Assad Regime (17 Dec 2024)
The Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Syria warned about the dramatic shifts in the front lines in Syria, noting that a vast swathe of Syrian territory — containing approximately 7 million people — had come under the control of non-State actors, including the terrorist group Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham and armed opposition groups. Amid calls for de-escalation delegations at the Security Council accused each other of being responsible for the situation.
- Meetings Coverage (SC/15919)
- Minutes of the Meeting
The al-Fateh al-Mubeen Joint Operations Room — a coalition containing both Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham and armed opposition groups, including the Syrian National Army — launched a ground operation, with drone cover, across agreed de-escalation lines, taking de facto control of almost the entirety of the Aleppo and Idlib governorates.
The Security Council discussed the effects of Israel’s aerial incursions into Syria and the flight of Lebanese citizens to Syria.
- Meetings Coverage (SC/15861)
- Minutes of the Meeting
