UN peacekeeping head Herve Ladsous told the UN Security Council that escalating conflict in Syria has made it impossible for the UN observer mission to resume operations. The mission, which saw 300 observers monitoring the situation, was suspended on June 16.
Reuters reports that, according to an anonymous diplomat, “Satellite telephones for [the UN operation are] still not allowed by [the] Syrian government, key tool to its operations, despite repeated requests.” Nasser al-Kidwa, deputy to former U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan’s deputy, told the security council that the situation in Syria has not improved since the suspension.
