The U.N. Security Council issued a joint statement Thursday strongly condemning a mortar attack by Syria on a Turkish border town that killed five people.

People killed on Syrian attack

The statement called on both sides not to escalate the violence. Guatemala’s UN ambassador, Gert Rosenthal, the current Security Council president who read the statement, said he is awaiting final approval by all council members on another statement concerning the Aleppo attacks. The UN Security Council overcame deep divisions to unanimously approve the statement condemning “in the strongest terms” Syria’s shelling of a Turkish town that killed five women and children. The Security Council said the incident highlighted the grave impact the conflict is having on the security of Syria’s neighbors and on regional peace and stability. The council called on the Syrian government to fully respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of its neighbors. It also extended condolences to the families of the victims and to the government and people of Turkey.