Mission possible in Syria

The United Nations Security Council unanimously adopted a rollover resolution on Friday to extend the UN Supervision Mission in Syria for 30 days. The international community should seize the opportunity to reach a consensus on the Syria issue and press belligerent parties in the turbulent country to fully comply with the UN resolution.

According to the resolution, the extension would be the last unless the use of heavy weapons is stopped and violence by all parties shunned, which remain a challenging task. This may well be the last chance for peace in Syria.

Despite the extension of the UN mission, bloodshed continued over the weekend. Escalating violence had impaired the UN mission in Syria after it was mandated in April, with even UN observers being attacked at times.