A Rarity: US Security Council Passes Resolution on Syria

In a rare occurrence on Saturday, the United Nations Security Council was able to pass a resolution about Syria. The two vetoes that have been automatic on any substantive draft proposal since the start of the civil war were silent this time as a resolution aimed at improving access for humanitarian relief found approval even though threats to turn to the International Criminal Court at The Hague had to be removed before Russia and China would go along with the draft. In fact, all threats of enforcement were absent from the draft. But it was the first attempt in three years to make any reference to intolerable behavior such as the use of barrel bombs – outlawed weapons in use only by the Assad regime – was condemned. The heart of the resolution was to demand access anywhere necessary for delivering humanitarian aid or assistance. Terrorist attacks were condemned, but not in relation to the regime. The reference was to Al-Qa’ida-linked groups that are fighting against the government but are also turning arms against non-Islamist rebel forces. Meanwhile, fighting neared the cease-fire line between Syria and Israel along the Golan Heights on Saturday. Syrian army forces backed by helicopters captured two villages that have until now been held by rebel forces near the city of Quneitra.