Syria: Civil Society Organizations Call for an Immediate Halt to the Military Escalation in Northeast Syria

The undersigned Syrian organizations express their deep concern over the escalating military operations in Northeast Syria/the Jazira region. They call for an immediate ceasefire and an end to violations of International Humanitarian Law and International Human Rights Law. They further urge all parties to return to the 10 March 2025 Agreement, signed under United States auspices between the Syrian Transitional Government and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).

The undersigned organizations call for the protection of all civilians without discrimination. They strongly condemn and denounce all violations, regardless of the perpetrator, and stress the obligation to respect International Humanitarian Law, which explicitly prohibits summary executions, torture, ill-treatment, mutilation of corpses, attacks against civilians, and other grave violations. The organizations underline that the repeated violence stems fundamentally from the absence of a national political solution and the lack of genuine, inclusive political participation in shaping the country’s future during the transitional period, under Syrian leadership and ownership.

Once again, the latest military escalation in Raqqa, al-Hasakah, and Deir ez-Zor governorates, alongside alarming reports of the escape of hundreds of ISIS members, has generated real fears among religious and ethnic minorities in North-East Syria of mass killings based on identity, similar to what occurred in the coastal massacres and the Suwayda massacres. Therefore, and driven by our firm commitment to the protection of civilians and all Syrian components, strict adherence to International Humanitarian Law and international Human Rights Law, and the achievement of coexistence and civil peace in North-East Syria in particular and Syria as a whole, we call for the following:

First: To the United Nations Security Council — immediately:

1. Call on all parties to return to the negotiating table and to the signed agreements, on the basis of the March 2025 Agreement.
2. Activate the role of the newly appointed UN Special Envoy for Syria and ensure his sponsorship of negotiations, with a view to bridging positions, securing a ceasefire, and establishing effective ceasefire monitoring.
3. Prevent the outbreak of any ethno-national conflict (Kurdish/Arab), which would destabilize Syria and the region and trigger new waves of displacement and asylum-seeking.
4. Press for the launch of a credible, inclusive Syrian-led political process that guarantees the participation of all Syrian components in shaping the country’s future.
5. Ensure UN sponsorship of the transitional process in Syria and reaffirm the central role of the United Nations in advancing a comprehensive, democratic, and non-exclusionary transition.

Second: To the Syrian Transitional Government and the Syrian Democratic Forces:

1. Declare an immediate and unconditional ceasefire, and prioritize —above all— the protection of all civilians and civilian objects, in accordance with International Humanitarian Law.
2. Commit to implementing the provisions of the 10 March 2025 Agreement in good faith, and pledge not to resort to weapons to resolve political disputes.

Finally, we call on all parties involved in the recent military escalation, Syrians at large, and media professionals and journalists in particular, to reject hate speech, incitement, and violence, and to adopt peaceful solutions and dialogue as the foundation for addressing disputes. We also warn the international community that the latest military escalation may lead to large-scale forced displacement and ethnic cleansing, and may expose the entire region to the risk of internal conflict.

Signatory organizations:

1. Rose for support and empowerment
2. Syrians for Truth and Justice
3. Tal-Abyad Forum for civil society
4. dijla Organization for Development and Environment
5. Dan for Relief and Development
6. DOZ
7. Ezdina Organization
8. Fajr
9. Duderi
10. PÊL- Civil Waves
11. Jiyan Foundation for Human Rights
12. Shams organisation
13. Lelun association for victims
14. Jho
15. Shawshka Women’s Association
16. Roni peywend
17. ARAS
18. ASHNA for Development
19. Jiyan – Kurdish Women’s Movement
20. ASO Center for Consultancy and Strategic Study
21. Roj Kar for Relief and Development
22. Rony
23. Ambassadors Association for Persons with Disabilities
24. Artist Organization for Culture and Development
25. Network of Statelessness Victims in al-Hasakah (NSVH)
26. RÊ for rehabilitation and development
27. PEACE SHE LEADAR NET WORK
28. Union der Syrischen Eziden
29. Insight Organization
30. Seen for Civil Peace
31. Lights For Development And Construction
32. Taa marbouta
33. DAR FOR Peace and prosperity
34. Women of tomorrow
35. Synergy Association for Victims
36. Syrian feminist lobby