UN Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix met with Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa and Defense Minister Muharram Abu Qasra in Damascus, as part of a regional tour focused on reinforcing peacekeeping operations and easing tensions along the Syrian-Israeli border.
The Syrian presidency confirmed Lacroix’s meeting with President Sharaa but did not disclose further details. Earlier in the day, the UN official held talks with Abu Qasra at the Ministry of Defense, where both parties discussed the importance of strengthening coordination with the UN mission to stabilize the region.
Focus on UNDOF and Border Security
Lacroix’s Damascus meetings followed a Friday visit to Camp Fawar in the occupied Golan Heights, where he met with peacekeepers from the UN Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) and its Force Commander, Maj. Gen. Anita Asme.
“Today, I visited Camp Fawar in the Golan Heights to meet with UNDOF peacekeepers. I am very proud of their exceptional work in these challenging times,” Lacroix wrote on X.
The Golan visit came amid heightened Israeli military violations in Syria’s Quneitra countryside, where Israeli occupation, ground incursions and demolition of homes and forest areas have raised concerns about regional escalation.
Expanded Defense Dialogue
According to the Syrian Ministry of Defense, Abu Qasra emphasized the necessity of reinforcing communication with the UN mission. The minister has recently engaged in multiple high-level meetings with counterparts from France, Turkey, Britain and other nations, as part of broader efforts to rebuild Syria’s military and administrative structures.
In the meeting with Lacroix, the minister reiterated Syria’s commitment to institutional reform and regional security, while highlighting the role of UN peacekeeping forces in managing friction points along the disengagement line with Israel.
Ongoing Cooperation with UN Forces
This weekend’s talks mark the third time Abu Qasra has met with senior UN officials this year. In previous meetings, including one in February with UNDOF representatives, he called for Israel’s full withdrawal from Syrian territory and endorsed greater UN involvement in securing the border.
A January meeting between Lacroix, Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani and Maj. Gen. Patrick Gauchat, then acting UNDOF Force Commander, also underscored Syria’s stated willingness to cooperate with the UN under the terms of the 1974 disengagement agreement. Discussions included support for mine clearance operations and coordination on efforts to address war remnants.
Regional Tour Continues
Lacroix’s visit to Syria is part of a broader regional itinerary that began in Lebanon, where he met with top officials including Prime Minister Nawaf Salam and Army Commander Joseph Aoun. His meetings have centered on reviewing peacekeeping operations and reaffirming UN support for de-escalation efforts.
With tensions rising along the Golan frontier, Lacroix’s stop in Damascus signals an attempt to reinforce existing UN mechanisms and foster direct dialogue aimed at preventing further deterioration in regional security.
