On Assad Regime & Allies’ Increasing Violations of Idlib Agreement & Their Targeting of Civilians

Press release

Syrian Coalition

Department of Media and Communications

December 3, 2018

Attacks by the Assad regime and Iranian terrorist militias across southern rural Idlib and other areas covered by the cease-fire agreement are taking place on a daily basis. These areas are coming under intensifying aerial bombardment as well as shelling with heavy artillery and machine guns, which is causing rising civilian casualties.

The Assad regime forces earlier today pounded the towns of Jarjanaz and al-Tih, causing massive destruction to civilian homes and property. The shelling has already forced thousands of people to flee to makeshift camps in the farmlands surrounding these towns.

The Syrian Coalition condemns these violations and crimes as it stresses that all members of the international community have a responsibility to enforce the Idlib agreement and push the political process forward. They must realize that attempts to undermine the Idlib Agreement is tantamount to playing with fire and that the Free Syrian Army groups were found to defend civilians and are in constant combat readiness to do so.

The Coalition reaffirms that the implementation of the Idlib agreement is the duty of all parties concerned if a humanitarian catastrophe in the region is to be averted. This requires serious action by the international community to ratchet up pressure on the Assad regime and its allies as key to advancing the political process and reviving the UN-led Geneva process in accordance with the relevant UN resolutions.