Int’l Community Has Duty to Protect Civilians in Idlib & Realize Risks of Regime & Allies’ Escalation

Press release

Syrian Coalition

Department of Media and Communications

February 7, 2019

The international community regrettably continues to ignore what is happening on the ground and the tragic reality caused by the constant, indiscriminate shelling by the Assad regime and Iranian militias with Russia cover and in violation of the Idlib agreement.

Indiscriminate shelling by the Assad regime forces killed a child and wounded several civilians in the town of Jrjanaz on Wednesday. A barrage of mortar fire and heavy machine guns also targeted the villages of Al-Khawain, Zarzur and Um Al Khalakhil in southern rural Idlib.

As this situation continues, the crimes continue and civilians continue to be targeted as if it became a new norm and as if there was no agreement in place or guarantors who need to be concerned about its durability.

Local councils in the towns of Tamana’a and Jarjanaz declared the two towns disaster areas as they called on humanitarian organizations to provide residents of the towns of the area with medical and relief assistance.

The Syrian Coalition reiterates its condemnation of attacks and actions violating the agreement which was reached in Sochi. It calls on parties and guarantors of the Idlib agreement as well as the international community to closely follow the situation on the ground and not to let civilians be subjected to indiscriminate shelling aimed at killing or displacing them.

It is imperative that the international community realize the dangers of the escalating attacks by the Assad regime and the Iranian militias as well as to realize their real objectives and to work to stop them and to spare the region its catastrophic consequences. The world is required not to waste more time; exert pressure on the Assad regime and its supporters to force them to commit to stopping crime and shelling; and push the political process forward in accordance with UN Security Council resolutions and the Geneva Communique of 2012.