Assad Regime Commits Horrific Massacre in Khan Sheikhoun as Violations of Idlib Agreement Continue

Press release

Syrian National

Department of Media and Communications

February 16, 2019

The Assad regime forces committed a horrible massacre claiming the lives of nine people - all of them children and women - and injuring many others in the town of Khan Sheikoun in rural Idlib on Friday. The massacre took place when regime forces fired a barrage of rockets and artillery shells on the residential neighborhoods in the town.

The shelling came as part of an intensified bombing campaign by the Assad regime and the Iranian militias under Russian cover in the areas covered by the Idlib Agreement. The shelling is targeting mainly populated areas, deliberately killing and spreading terror and chaos in the area.

The Syrian Coalition condemns this massacre as it calls on the international community to take urgent action to prevent further massacres and be aware of the dangers resulting from any further military escalation in the region.

Attacks violating the existing agreements must be condemned by everyone. Guarantors should closely follow the situation on the ground and intervene to save civilians and prevent further violations.