Alwaght- The war in Syria is increasingly driven by foreign powers, primarily in accordance with their respective geostrategic interests, says a new UN report.
In the report published on Thursday, the United Nations Commission of Inquiry on Syria notes that, "Syrian stakeholders, on all sides of the conflict, have gradually lost control over the course of events due to a variety of external factors that have obscured the internal dimension of the war."
"As the war endures, it displays worrying signs of becoming internationalized. The competition among regional powers for influence has resulted, among other consequences, in an alarming exacerbation of the sectarian dimension, instigated by the intervention of foreign fighters and extremist clerics," added the report.
The UN body also slams international community's failure regarding the Syrian crisis by stating that, "The global failure to protect Syrian refugees is now translating into a crisis in Southern Europe."
The report also warned that the ISIS terrorist group has expanded its terror campaign in the central and southern parts of Syria, saying, "A resonant cry for peace and accountability rings out.”
The UN team also points out that Syrian government forces3 have struggled against mounting military pressure by anti-Government armed groups, as well as Al-Nusra Front and ISIS terrorist groups.
The UN report also echoes Syrian President Bashar al Assad's sentiments in his July televised address where he noted that shortages in loyal manpower, combined with the proliferation of highly active fronts, have constrained Government forces’ ability to react simultaneously throughout the country.
The UN commission of inquiry is led by Paulo Pinheiro and its latest report was based on 355 interviews as well as medical records, photographs and satellite imagery, documented murders, rapes and abductions committed across Syria between January and July 2015.
The conflict in Syria, which started in March 2011, has reportedly claimed more than 240,000 lives up until now.
The violence has also forced over four million Syrians to take refuge in neighboring countries, including Jordan and Lebanon. More than 7.2 million others have been displaced internally, according to UN figures.
Syria blames western countries led by the US and their regional allies including the Israeli regime, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Turkey for being the main backers of terrorists fighting to topple the country’s legitimate government.