The UN’s deputy special envoy for Syria, Najat Rochdi, has warned the country is being battered by regional conflicts and increasing attacks within the country will likely make this year its most violent since 2020, Al Jazeera reports.

Speaking at the UN Security Council on Thursday, Rochdi urged all countries and parties with influence “to prevent Syria being further swept into a broader conflagration” and warned that “once again, Israeli air strikes on Syria have increased significantly, both in frequency and scope”.

Rochdi pointed to the attack near Palmyra city on Wednesday that killed dozens, and which she said was “likely the deadliest Israeli strike in Syria to date”.

Israeli strikes on residential areas in the capital Damascus as well as on bridges, roads and border crossings have further hindered civilians fleeing the war in Lebanon and disrupted essential imports and exports, she said.