United Nations world headquarters in New York

By Gary Raynaldo   –  DIPLOMATIC  TIMES

The UN Security Council held  an emergency closed-door meeting late Monday to discuss the situation in Syria after rebels forced out long-time ruler President Bashar al-Assad.  A rebel alliance led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) stormed into Damascus Sunday overthrowing Assad who reportedly fled to Russia. The meeting was called by Russia which has been a key ally of Syria.  UN Secretary General António Guterres said in a statement Sunday that “after 14 years of brutal war and the fall of the dictatorial regime…the people of Syria can seize an historic opportunity to build a stable and peaceful future.” Guterres stressed that the future of Syria is a matter for the Syrians to determine, adding that his UN Special Envoy for Syria Geir Pederson will be working with them towards that end.

“Syria is now at a crossroads with great opportunities for us, but also with grave risks. And we need really to look at both,” Pedersen told reporters Tuesday at a press briefing in Geneva. “We know that, of course, HTS is now the dominant group in control of Damascus, but it’s important also to remember that they are not the only armed group in Damascus.”