UN: Syria Bombings Likely by ‘Established Terrorist Groups’

Letter Warns of Deteriorating Humanitarian Conditions

A new letter from UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon warned that the recent major bombing attacks inside Syria are pointing to “established terrorist groups” have set up shop in Syria. The letter also warned members of the UN Security Council not to supply arms to either side in the conflict.

There is a continuing crisis on the ground, characterized by regular violence, deteriorating humanitarian conditions, human rights violations and continued political confrontation,” the letter added.

The UN is expected to discuss the worsening situation in Syria next Wednesday with Ban and Kofi Annan. Western officials have been pressing for the UN to abandon the ceasefire efforts as a failure, and to endorse NATO plans to attack Syria and install the rebels as the new government.

This is almost certain to fail, of course, as Russia is a close ally of the Assad regime and will veto any resolutions which might conceivably be used to start a war. Given how broadly NATO interpreted a resolution for a “no-fly zone” in Libya as an authorization for regime change, this means any resolutions will be under a microscope for loopholes.

Author: Jason Ditz

Jason Ditz is Senior Editor for Antiwar.com. He has 20 years of experience in foreign policy research and his work has appeared in The American Conservative, Responsible Statecraft, Forbes, Toronto Star, Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Providence Journal, Washington Times, and the Detroit Free Press.