While the discipline and behaviour of government forces have improved in subsequent months, it will take more than that to rebuild trust with many Syrians, particularly in minority communities.
Meanwhile, Syrian's humanitarian needs remain immense, and the international bandwidth for addressing them is diminishing. The UN estimates that more than 15 million Syrians are in need of humanitarian support, and the current regional war has exacerbated the challenge. Gulf states that Syria was relying upon to support and invest will now need to prioritize their own resilience. Looking ahead, finding ways to compensate for that expected shortfall must be an immediate priority for Damascus and its supporters in the international community.
In conclusion, I'll briefly note a couple of additional points that I'm happy to address further in discussion.
First, the Syrian government took a bold step by participating in U.S.-mediated talks with Israel, which have stalled amid Israel's refusal to commit to withdrawing from the Syrian territory it has occupied since the fall of the Assad regime. In order to reduce the risk of escalation and to open a pathway to reintegrating Sweida within the Syrian state, it is important that Damascus remain committed to this track and that the U.S. continue to press Israel to engage constructively.
Second, the integration agreement between Damascus and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces ended weeks of clashes, averted what could have been an ugly fight in Kurdish areas and charted a pathway for inclusive local governance in the country's northeast. Both parties showed wisdom in reaching it and goodwill in implementing it thus far. If they continue that, it will serve as a major step forward for the country as a whole.
Finally, nationwide, it is also crucial that Syria move quickly to improve the inclusiveness of government structures at all levels, from local security forces to the cabinet. The government's performance and credibility will improve if it better incorporates Syria's rich diversity.
Thank you.