Iraq: Security Council briefed on major milestones and ongoing challenges
“As you have heard many times by now, today’s Iraq is not the same as the Iraq of 20 years ago, or even five years ago. Iraq today is more secure, stable and open, despite the many obstacles facing the…
Syria: More than 280,000 uprooted in northwest escalation
Aid has continued to flow from Türkiye across three border crossings into the embattled northwest and the UN World Food Programme (WFP) said that it had opened community kitchens in Aleppo and Hama – cities now reportedly occupied by HTS…
Report exposes systematic torture in Syrian detention facilities
Titled ‘The Syrian Government Detention System as a Tool of Violent Repression,’ the report from the UN International, Impartial and Independent Mechanism (IIIM) draws on over 300 witness interviews, medical forensic evidence and the Syrian Government’s own documentation. It reveals…
Iran launches heaviest space payload into orbit: media
Tehran, Iran — Iran successfully launched on Friday its heaviest space payload, which includes a satellite and a space tug, using a domestically developed satellite carrier, official media reported. Weighing 300 kilograms, the payload consisted of the Fakhr-1 telecommunications satellite…
Guterres calls for ‘serious dialogue’ to end surging violence in Syria
António Guterres held a stakeout outside the Security Council chamber to address the “grave and dramatic developments” that are unfolding. “I just spoke with President Erdoğan of Türkiye to discuss the latest,” he said. “I emphasized the urgent need for…
UN and partners assist scores affected by crises in Syria, Lebanon and Gaza
Speaking in New York, Secretary-General António Guterres addressed the recent escalation in northwest Syria, saying it was painful to see the country’s progressive fragmentation. The Syrian war began nearly 14 years ago, sparked by a civil uprising against the Government. …
Middle East crisis: Live updates for 4 December
The Middle East crisis continues to deepen, with families in Gaza struggling to secure basic food amid constant displacement, plummeting temperatures, and relentless conflict. Meanwhile, the full-blown war in Syria has reignited, where the status quo has been “radically altered”…
Syria risks grave division and destruction, Security Council hears
Geir Pedersen told the Security Council the country faced grave risk of further division that was in no Syrian’s interest. “As I brief you today, a vast swathe of territory has come under the control of non-State actors, including the…
Force will not secure Middle East peace: UN General Assembly President
Addressing the 193-member Assembly, President Philémon Yang reiterated the importance of the two-State solution, calling it the only path to lasting peace. “After more than a year of war and suffering, the realization of this vision is more urgent…
Gaza: New evacuation order affects more than 2,000 in Khan Younis
Monday’s directive is the fourth such evacuation order for the area since July and covers about three square kilometres. OCHA stressed once again that repeated evacuation orders – which are now in effect for about 80 per cent of the…