Expressing its gravest concern at the continued suffering of the Syrian people,
the dire and deteriorating humanitarian situation, the ongoing conflict and its
persistent and brutal violence, the negative impact of terrorism and violent extremist
ideology in support of terrorism, the destabilizing effect of the crisis on the region
and beyond, including the resulting increase in terrorists drawn to the fighting in
Syria, the physical destruction in the country, and increasing sectarianism, and
underscoring that the situation will continue to deteriorate in the absence of a
political solution,