A/HRC/22/59 June 2012 (A/66/865-S/2012/522), which called for a political transition, sustained cessation of hostilities and establishment of a transitional governing body with full executive powers. The Syrian opposition rejected any settlement or transition that included President Al Assad. 18. On 18 January 2013, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights briefed the Security Council and requested a referral of the situation in the Syrian Arab Republic to the International Criminal Court. 19. The Joint Special Representative of the United Nations and the League of Arab States for Syria, Lakhdar Brahimi, continued to encourage stakeholders to work towards ending the violence in the Syrian Arab Republic, and to enter into inclusive negotiations leading to a comprehensive settlement. A number of meetings between the United States and the Russian Federation were facilitated by the Joint Special Representative to support the implementation of the Geneva communiqué. B. Military context3 20. In recent months, the conflict in the Syrian Arab Republic has continuously escalated, albeit unequally, reaching new levels of violence and spreading to new regions. Whereas the Government remained in control of the southern and coastal governorates, anti-Government armed groups made substantial military gains in central and northern regions, forcing the Government to cede control of several localities and strategic junctions. An escalation was observed in the north-eastern governorates with the involvement of Kurdish militia. 1. Government forces and affiliated militia 21. The Government, with affiliated militia, adopted a “contraction” of forces strategy in facing the mounting insurgency. While focusing on holding major cities, Government forces also besieged restive towns with layers of security. Towns under armed group control suffered intensified artillery and aerial shelling. Other, mostly rural, areas were abandoned completely by Government forces, but continued to be shelled. Besides conventional ammunition, other types of ammunition were used, including cluster aerial bombs and artillery shells. No credible evidence was documented on the use of chemical weapons by either side. 22. Armed self-defence groups formed by pro-Government communities — also known as popular committees — continued to protect their neighbourhoods and localities from anti-Government armed groups and to participate in military operations alongside Government forces. They were allegedly armed and equipped by the Government and, in some areas, by external sympathisers. 2. Anti-Government armed groups 23. Despite its persistent divisions, the insurgency continued to mature into a fighting force increasingly able to challenge Government control of the country and to strike at strategic targets, such as oil fields and airports. In the northern and central provinces, these groups extended their control over increasing swathes of territory, while struggling in the southern and coastal governorates. 3 GE.13-10627 See also annex II. 7