"After more than four years of slaughter, the Syrian conflict is a shameful symbol of the international community's divisions and failure. I am profoundly disappointed that this Council's resolutions on Syria have not been implemented — neither on ending the violence nor on easing humanitarian suffering or combating terrorism and foreign fighters, " Ban told the UN Security Council.
The ongoing conflict in Syria has been fueled by a lack of accountability for the major human rights violations perpetrated there, the Secretary-General added.
The conflict in Syria is one of the reasons for the growth of global radicalization, as well as the advance of terrorist groups such as Islamic State (ISIL) and the Nusra Front, Ban stressed.
The war in Syria is "a clear threat to international peace and security," Ban said, adding that the international community should consider everything it could do to "end the carnage."
The UN chief has also urged the international community to take advantage of the political momentum generated by the nuclear agreement recently reached between Iran and the P5+1 group of mediators.
"The unity that generated that agreement can help point the way towards conflict resolution in Syria and greater stability across the region," Ban said.
Syria has been in a state of a civil war since 2011. Government forces have been fighting numerous extremist groups, including Islamic State and the Nusra Front.
