Resolution on the situation in Northeast Syria, the violence against civilians and the need to maintain a sustainable ceasefire
The European Parliament adopted by 363 votes to 71, with 81 abstentions, a resolution on the situation in Northeast Syria, the violence against civilians and the need to maintain a sustainable ceasefire.
The text adopted in plenary was tabled by the EPP, S&D, ECR, Renew, Greens/EFA and The Left groups.
Repeated outbreaks of violence in different parts of Syria, destabilisation attempts by partisans of Bashar al-Assad, as well as by Daesh forces, and an overall high number of arms in circulation, create a fragmented and volatile security situation in the country, which could undermine prospects for a stable, inclusive and Syrian-led political transition. While Iran and Russia have a reduced influence on the current situation, other actors, such as Israel and Türkiye, are still using Syria as an arena for their indirect rivalries.
On 6 January 2026, the Syrian authorities launched an offensive in Aleppo and the surrounding area, resulting in casualties and the displacement of 148 000 civilians, damage to infrastructure and further deterioration of humanitarian conditions. This offensive was later extended to the Raqqa, Al-Hasakah and Deir Ezzor governorates in north-east Syria and notably to the region around Kobani and Qamishli, which has placed north-east Syria under severe strain with direct consequences for civilian safety, the humanitarian situation and regional stability.
Parliament firmly condemned all acts of violence against civilians, including extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, arbitrary detention, forced displacement and damage to civilian infrastructure. It is concerned by credible reports from the UN, international non-governmental organisations and humanitarian organisations of human rights violations perpetrated in recent weeks, in particular against the Kurdish population, including several incidents of desecration of corpses, both male and female, vandalism of burial grounds and the reported use of unguided munitions in civilian areas.
The resolution called for a swift investigation into the reported crimes against civilians committed by both government forces and militias and for the Syrian authorities to provide all relevant UN bodies, including the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arabic Republic, with full and transparent access.
Members also expressed deep concern about the deteriorating humanitarian situation in north-east Syria, in predominantly Kurdish urban areas, including Kobani, Manbij and Qamishli, which have experienced repeated disruptions to essential services and damage to civilian infrastructure as well as mass displacement, food insecurity and limited access to healthcare, water and sanitation. In this regard, the EU and its Member States are called on to increase humanitarian assistance and psychosocial support to the impacted regions.
Parliament denounced the continued military intervention and aggression by Türkiye in north-east Syria, including deadly attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure in Kurdish majority cities and provinces along the border between the two countries. It urged the Turkish Government to immediately stop its military involvement in north-east Syria and enable negotiations for a peaceful solution between the Syrian transitional government and the Syrian Democratic Forces.
Members expressed grave concern, in particular, about the risk posed by the significant number of Daesh fighters and affiliates who have escaped from detention facilities and camps in north-east Syria and warned that the gradual displacement of the problem of Daesh detainees to Iraq risks creating new forms of uncertainty and dependency on the capacities and political will of third countries. Parliament called on the international coalition, including the United States, to take all necessary measures to mitigate this security risk without delay and called for the EU to provide the necessary support to this end.
The EU, the Member States and like-minded countries are urged to step up their efforts to combat any resurgence of Daesh, which would threaten the security of Syria, the region and Europe. Parliament welcomed the Syrian Government’s renewed commitment to countering terrorism within the framework of the Global Coalition against Daesh and urged the authorities to seek close military and intelligence coordination and cooperation with international partners. Parliament called on Member States to repatriate all their nationals, especially children, from the al-Hol and al-Roj camps and to bring adults to justice in fair trials.
Parliament welcomed the Commission’s financial support package of approximately EUR 620 million for 2026 and 2027 and called for the EU and its Member States to sustain humanitarian assistance and early recovery support in north-east Syria, with a particular focus on civilian protection, the resilience of local communities and support for Syrian civil society, independent human rights organisations and local peace-building initiatives.
Lastly, Members stressed that any engagement with Syrian authorities must remain conditional on tangible and verifiable progress on civilian protection, and respect for ceasefire arrangements, human rights and minority rights.