Russia Delivers Death Blow to Political Process Amidst Total International Silence

Press release

Syrian Coalition

Media Department

February 19, 2018

The Assad regime, backed by the Russian occupation forces and Iranian militias, has unleashed a large-scale terrorist ground attack on the Damascus suburb of eastern Ghouta. Airstrikes killed at least 58 people in the last 24 hours while dozens went missing.

The brutal onslaught on eastern Ghouta is clearly aimed at undermining political solution. There is no denying the fact that Russia wants to bury the UN-led political process altogether, especially after it announced that it supplied regime forces with new sophisticated weapons to use them in the onslaught on eastern Ghouta.

The onslaught on eastern Ghouta represents a dangerous escalation, with the Assad regime and the Russian occupation aircraft launching over 70 airstrikes and dropping 25 barrel as well as targeting residential neighborhoods with more than 150 Grad rockets, six surface-to-surface missiles, and a barrage of artillery fire.

Civil defense teams are still struggling under extremely dangerous conditions to rescue those who are trapped in the rubble of bombed buildings. In addition to the bombardment, the area suffers catastrophic humanitarian conditions resulting from the years-long siege.

The latest developments are more than enough to alarm sponsors of the political solution who are watching idly by. They must also draw the attention of the countries claiming to stand on the side of the Syrian people and requires immediate, firm stances from these countries.

The genocidal war and barbaric aggression would not have taken place against people of eastern Ghouta had it not been for the silence of the international community and sponsors of the political solution. This silence represents a green light encouraging the Assad regime and its allies to carry on with these atrocious crimes. The international community’s choosing to watch idly by makes it a partner in the aggression on the Syrian people.

All members of the international community bear the direct consequences of their continued silence and inaction, chiefly among them is the undermining of all chances of reaching a political solution in Syria.

The Syrian Coalition calls on the UN Security Council to take urgent, serious action to protect 400,000 civilians who have been trapped for five years in eastern Ghouta and to act in accordance with its legal, political and moral responsibilities.