In January 2026, as part of his tour of the Middle East, Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix visited the Golan, accompanied by Acting Military Adviser General Cheryl Pearce and the Syrian Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ibrahim Olabi. He met with members of the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) and was briefed on the situation on the ground and the Mission’s operational priorities.
During the visit, Mr. Lacroix spent time with UNDOF peacekeepers and the UN Truce Supervision Organization’s Observer Group Golan (UNTSO–OGG), commending their professionalism and resilience in a challenging security environment. He noted that, “despite a complex and volatile context, they diligently carry out their mandated tasks,” under the leadership of Major-General Asmah.
Mr. Lacroix also spent time with local communities in Quneitra to discuss how UNDOF can continue supporting civilians during these challenging times, reaffirming the Mission’s commitment to peace and stability in the Area of Separation and emphasizing the need for full adherence by the parties to the 1974 Disengagement Agreement. He later described these as “important exchanges” that help ensure the Mission remains responsive to civilian concerns within the limits of its mandate.
UNDOF peacekeepers also conducted engagement activities in Qalaat Jandal, where local leaders shared security concerns, welcomed recent mine-disposal efforts, and reaffirmed their cooperation with the Mission, reflecting UNDOF’s continued focus on dialogue, safety, and community coordination.
Mr. Lacroix reiterated that the temporary reduction in the number of peacekeepers, linked to contingency planning, does not constitute a disengagement. UNDOF continues to observe and report violations, and any limited reduction in capacity has had only minimal impact on mandate implementation due to effective mission reorganization.
During his stop in Damascus, Mr. Lacroix met with Syrian authorities and thanked President Ahmed al-Sharaa for his full support to UNDOF’s work. He reaffirmed the Mission’s commitment to carrying out its mandate and highlighted peacekeeping’s readiness to reinforce mine action in Syria, where the UN Mine Action Service (UNMAS) estimates that more than 65 per cent of the population is threatened by mines and explosive remnants of war.
The visit underscored the essential role of UNDOF peacekeepers in monitoring the ceasefire.
