United Nations: United Nations Secretary-
General Antonio Guterres has called for an immediate de-
escalation in Syria after Israel carried out raids inside the
war-torn country.
Guterres is "following closely the alarming military
escalation throughout Syria and the dangerous spillover across
its borders," UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said in a
statement.
Israel targeted what it said were Iranian positions
inside Syria after one of its warplanes was hit by Syrian air
defences and crashed.
The Israeli raids came after it intercepted what it said
was an Iranian drone entering its airspace.
Guterres stressed that all concerned in Syria and in the
region must abide by international law.
"He calls on all to work for an immediate and
unconditional de-escalation of violence and exercise
restraint," Dujarric said.
It was the most serious confrontation between Iran and
Israel since Syria's war began in 2011 and came amid growing
alarm over Syrian government offensives against rebel-held
Eastern Ghouta and Idlib.
The Syrian people are suffering "though one of the most
violent periods in nearly seven years of conflict," said the
UN statement.
"Over 1,000 civilian casualties from airstrikes were
reported in the first week of February alone."
Guterres urged the parties to move quickly toward a
political solution to end the war.
Israel's Ambassador Danny Danon called on the Security
Council "to condemn this dangerous act and to put an immediate
end to Iranian provocations."
Diplomats, however, said there were no immediate plans to
convene a council meeting despite the sharp rise in tensions.
The council is due to discuss the crisis in Syria on
Wednesday.
