Skip to main content

CommunicationPublished on 11 July 2025

UN mission with the Observer Group Golan in Syria: leadership, decision-making, perseverance

Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Ott is currently serving as Chief Observer Group Golan-Damascus with the United Nations Truce Supervision Organisation (UNTSO), leading a multinational team in the tense border region between Syria and Israel. In this interview, the Swiss officer talks about the current situation, the particular challenges of leading an international team – and why this mission has been so formative for him, both professionally and personally.